You want to be part of the Green Revolution and are looking to find ways to reduce your energy use. But first, you must know what your energy use is. Make and save a chart in a Microsoft Word or Excel file to keep track of your energy use for 2 days this week. Include the following: What types of energy/fuel did you use (including any alternative sources of energy) What was the purpose of the energy/fuel use (heating/cooling, recreational, etc.)? Save your chart, and present it with 2–3 paragraphs containing the following information. Which primary energy source does your electric company generate electricity (coal, nuclear, etc.)? How did you find out? What changes could you make to decrease your energy use? What changes could you make to increase your energy efficiency? What do you think would change if your heating oil or coal supply came from Russia? What environmental law, currently up for debate before a state or federal government, do you support and why?
Energy use for 2 days this week:Day1 / Day2
Purpose of Energy use / Type of Energy/Fuel Used / Quantiy / UoM / Quantiy / UoM
Heating / Electricity / 12 / KVA / 11 / KVA
Cooking / Electricity / 10 / KVA / 9 / KVA
Driving / Gasoline / 4 / Lit / 4 / Lit
Recreation Activities (TV, Music system etc) / Electricity / 6 / KVA / 5.5 / KVA
Electric Appliances (Washing machine, Refrigerator , AC etc) / Electricity / 14 / KVA / 15 / KVA
My electric company is Exelon Generation. Exelon Generation has power plant Fore River Generating Station at Weymouth, Massachusetts. This power station is 800 MW natural gas unit which is able to run on oil also. Primary energy source of this company is natural gas. I came to know about this through an news published at the website of Transmission and Distribution World ( Website: tdworld.com), which says that this power station is 800-MW natural gas combined cycle unit. (Source: tdworld.com)
Looking at the chart I see that my major energy consumption is in use of electric appliances. Also, I use 4 liter gasoline everyday on driving. I can save energy if I use public transport. Use of energy saving electric appliances like refrigerator, washing machine, intelligent AC etc can also save electricity substantially. I also use lots of energy in heating. I can heat my bedroom only and save some energy at that front also. At my home, I have color TV that I purchased 5-6 years ago. Replacing old TV with LED TV will also save energy. In addition to this, I should replace all tube lights with CFL. Electric appliances come with Energy Star labels which is estimate of the product's energy consumption or energy efficiency. (Source: energysavers.gov) Energy Star label can guide me kin choosing energy efficient appliances.
If sources of energy like heating oil or coal supply came from Russia, more energy consumption would mean more import. By reducing energy consumption, import could be reduced which would improve balance of payment. However, effect on environment would not change if heating oil or coal supply comes from Russia.
One recent environmental law up for debate is Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule. This law says, any facility emitting more than 25,000 tons of greenhouse gases per year needs to obtain permission. Such facilities will also need to demonstrate that they are using best technology to minimize emission. (EPA Website) I support this bill as it is good for environment and so for human health. There is always need to limit the emission of green house gases in environment. Effective implementation of this law will certainly improve environment and make the world a better place to live in.
References
"Fact Sheet -- Proposed Rule: Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule". Retrieved on February 4th, 2011. From:
Transmission & Distribution World Website.Retrieved on February 4th, 2011. From:
"Shopping for Energy-Efficient Appliances and Home Electronics".Retrieved on February 4th, 2011. From: