Electricity Conservation 9
Mitigation Plan for Energy Conservation:
Electricity Conservation
[Your Name Here]
[Your University ]
July 28, 2008
Electricity Conservation
The industrial and technological revolution is unstoppable. The quest for more technological advancement is getting more intense. These advancements are proudly embraced by the world’s modernized population. Technology has made the life of the people inhabiting our planet to become much easier day by day with the use of highly advanced facilities. People are enjoying much of the current technologies and seem to forget to think that that energy is what makes most of the modern facilities usable. Most, if not all, equipments and facilities used nowadays require energy. Electrically-generated facilities are widely and popularly used which had been considered a necessity in the homes, in the offices, in schools, in the factories, and everywhere. As Electricity is now widely used for lighting purposes, for running machineries and vast varieties of electrical appliances and electronic devices. Electricity use became habitual. Everyone seems to enjoy the great help of electricity but there are many associated problems that lie behind the usage of this resource. Most of the electricity currently in use is generated by using non-renewable energy resources. The use of these non-renewable resources as we all know is accompanied by loads of undesirable impacts to the people, to all other living species, to the environment, and to our entire planet as a whole. The renewable resources such s hydropower and solar power which generate electricity currently has lots of issues involved as well. With many issues associated with the electricity use, there is a need for an intensive mitigation plan for electricity conservation.
Humans mainly contribute to the issues associated with the electricity. Humans enjoyed with the overwhelming advantages of the use of electricity. Humans became too dependent with electricity. Much of the human activities are done much easier, faster, and much better with the aid of electricity. Just with a switch of a button lights are on. Just with a switch of a button, a person can go up on top a skyscraper. A person can just rush with a door opening automatically. People are enjoying on a desired home or building temperature in any planet zone. More technological advances are enhanced by use of electricity. Generally, life became too much easier and pleasurable with all the luxuries provided by electrically-generated facilities. With the rapidly growing population, the demand for electricity supply is skyrocketing.
Currently, there is a race in modernization of technology. Tools had been mostly replaced by highly technological inventions. Modernized tools and equipments are now available in the markets. As people continue to enjoy an easy life with the easy to use electrical and electronic devices, their main concern is mainly focussed on how to operate and how to enjoy using the accessible electrical equipment. As long as the equipment is working after plugging in, the electricity bill is not likely seen as a problem. The thoughtless, careless and abusive use of electric power has not been given deep thoughts and consideration. It is not surprising to see an unused area with all the lights brightly on. Many unused equipments are left plugged on and working for long hours. Due to some financial reasons, old appliances are used as long as they are usable without realizing a drawback that an old appliance has higher energy consumption. All of these factors contribute to a tremendous increase in electricity consumption.
With an increasing need for electricity supply, brownouts or blackouts and power shortage had been an issue. A day with cut off electrical supply nowadays means a lot. A few minutes of power shutdown causes chaos in hospital environment especially in the operating theatres and intensive care facilities which use electrically-generated facilities for life sustainment and management. It disrupts the daily activities of humans in households, offices, factories, etc. It greatly affects various businesses by all means. For example, stocks and supplies kept in electrically-generated equipments such as refrigerators, incubators, and temperature-controlled rooms can be greatly affected with power supply interruption. Shortage of power indeed is considered as a major problem faced by the human society which can turn as a great disaster if no sustainment plan is implemented to address such issue.
Currently, electricity is generated with the use of both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Hydroelectric power is mostly used. The use of solar energy and wind power are as well showing some progress. With the issues of global warming and other associated issues such as the environmental costs of hydroelectric dams, the hydropower resources are greatly affected which causes shortage of power. The use and management of the wind and solar energy sources have some challenges to beat too. With a dire need of electricity supply, the use of non-renewable energy so far is currently the easiest and a commonly used way of generating electricity. The use of non-renewable energy particularly the fossil fuels is environmentally damaging and has lots of hazardous effects to humans as well as to all other living organisms.
One factor that greatly contributes to power shortage is the electricity production waste. For example in the United States, it said that “only 32% of the electricity produced in power plants is actually distributed.” (Where does our electricity come from?, n.d.)
The issues revolving around the electricity have both positive and negative human impacts. The issue will awaken the people and realize the importance of electricity as well as the priority of the humans’ welfare and the living organisms. That will make the people to act and make efforts to contribute to protect the society and environment through electrical powers conservation. A full awareness on the issue will help the people to realize that a currently pleasurable life is not lasting if due care is not implemented. Upon realization of this issue, people will learn how to contribute in energy-saving strategies even in simplest ways. This issue will also lead to divert the attention on the use of renewable energy resources such as use of wind turbines and windmills, solar electricity, and biomass. The use of renewable resources as we all know is much safer and healthier and has lots of advantages. The wind power even not so strong and just barely enough to turn windmills and wind turbines is a good source of renewable energy. The natural solar power which about 75 % of the population is in favour of is a rising technology which can provide solar electricity. The solar cell is hoped to supply energy to run home motors in the near future. The solar concentrator can collect narrow beams of energy from the sun which then becomes capable of powering motors.
Currently, humans are too dependent on the use of electricity. The everyday use of electricity which resulted to careless and abusive use has been habitual. As life goes on as easy as it is, it may be difficult to break such undesirable habit. Full cooperation and compliance on the implemented energy conservation plan cannot be fully expected. This is a major negative human impact that may be difficult to beat. The current generation may enjoy life as of now but the future generation will suffer the consequences.
Currently, there are many sustainability strategies and solution implemented. Governments had implemented electric utility demand side management programs. Information on efficient use of electricity is widely disseminated. Switching on the energy saver button on household appliances is a great way to reduce our consumption of electrical energy. Turning down the temperatures of refrigerators which account for 20% of electricity used within the households greatly help in reduction of electricity usage. Cold and warm settings with washing machine use are great factors in efficient use of electricity. Replacing old appliances with new ones specifically those with Energy Star label is a very important step. Energy-saving ways to upgrade and improve household use of electricity consumption are also reinforced such as buying energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs instead of regular light bulbs which save one fourth of the energy of a normal bulb uses. Installing energy-efficient windows is also suggested as a great way of lowering electricity bills. Those are few examples of currently strategies on efficient use of electricity.
The government has also looked on reduction of electrical demands during peak hours. Eliminating waste of electricity is also well addressed. Waste of electricity may not be seen as a big problem for the fact that the cost of electricity is considered cheap and affordable. However, there are wastes associated with wasting electricity such as the cost of generating electricity, the cost of undesired waste gas emissions, and the cost of energy transmissions. These wastes can generate real problems thus saving electricity is given much importance as one of the major strategies in energy conservation. Bringing into awareness of the consumers the cost of electricity through smart metering is also implemented. This allows people to note the difference of the cost of electricity just by knowing the differences of the electricity use at different times. Use of appliances with less energy requirements is currently in trend such the implementation of Energy Star program. This strategy describes the energy de-coupling which is currently one of the sustainability strategies. The conservation strategies thus far yield positive effects. According to the report of the US Energy Information Agency, “in 2005, the electric utility demand side management programs saved 60 billion kilowatt at a cost of a little more than 3 cents/kWh and reduced peak demand by 25.7 Gigawatts.” (US Energy Information Agency, n.d.) This report of electricity reduction in peak demand is very significant which would mean elimination of the need to build 100 medium-sized power plants and the associated transmission infrastructure to supply with the electricity needs of the growing population.
The use of renewable resources is becoming popular presently. Aside from direct sustainment plan, many other strategies that have impacts on this issue are also strongly implemented. This includes, addressing global warming issues and implementation of recycling of materials. These issues are highly associated with electricity use and these are properly addressed currently.
This electricity conservation plans needs active involvement and participation of the entire population with assistance of government and civic groups. Full understanding of the issue and putting its impacts and consequences on the awareness pf the people, so far is the most relevant plan that will be a great contributor that can make the sustainability plans successful. The entire population must understand the whole situation of why electricity conservation is very significant. A wide –based campaign such as media involvement, leaflets distribution, and integration of the issue on school curriculum needs to be implemented. Information dissemination in smaller groups needs to be well planned and reinforced. A monthly presentation highlighting the currently occurring impacts as well as the potential problems that will happen in future years needs to be planned and implemented in small community groups. This will greatly motivate the curiosity of the population in giving importance on the issue. A detailed dissemination of how each one can help in energy conservation needs active reinforcement. A move on encouragement on the use of alternative energy resources such as solar cells and wind mills needs to be well addressed. Government involvement to provide assistance with the people on this matter is highly needed thus there must be a body to lead the people to negotiate this matter with the government.
Better responses can be expected when people realize the forthcoming threats on their survival. At times, people tend to react on the currently hot issue but the interest on contributing on the resolution of the issue easily fades and “dies off” especially if the impacts had not yet directly affected them. This plan therefore needs involvement of government, active groups and organizations to actively monitor and oversee that the plans are being implemented with good compliance.
The sustainability plan will be for the benefit of all. When electricity supplies are cut down, there will be less power shutdown and associated environmental factors will be trimmed down. This plan if positively reinforced and complied will have significant impacts on the people, all living creatures, the environment and the planet Earth. This will allow the people to continue living with modernized and comfortable conditions while keeping a sustainable planet for the future generations.
This issue in reality is a bit hard to beat. With the current trends and modernized way of living, people had been accustomed on living with the advantages of the use of electricity-generated facilities. Cutting off the activities of the lifestyles they had used to can be difficult. Since the careless and abusive use of electricity thus far has turned as a habit, it may become difficult to break such habit thus people’s cooperation in electricity conservation measures may be less thus a great challenge to the sustainability plan.
With the use of alternative energy resources, many feel that wind power is not highly reliable thus proving it as viable energy source still needs lots of struggle. With the solar power, every individual may freely initiate using it but to make a significant difference its needs to be used in a larger scale. An appropriate space such as yards is required to set up the facilities to make use of solar energy, and these may not always be available. “Renewables are typically a more expensive source of electricity generation than existing coal or new natural gas means that renewables might fare less well under restructuring.” (Palmer & Burtraw, 2005) The use of renewable energy as part of the sustainability plan, may turn as not so attractive, thus a great challenge to the plan.