Energy conservation refers to reducing energy
consumption through using less of an energy service. Energy conservation
differs from efficient energy use, which refers to using
less energy for a constant service.For example, driving less is an example of
energy conservation. Driving the same amount with a higher mileage vehicle is
an example of energy efficiency. Energy conservation and efficiency are both
energy reduction techniques.
Even though energy conservation reduces energy services, it
can result in increased environmental quality, national
security, personal financial security and higher savings. It is at
the top of the sustainable energy
hierarchy. It also lowers energy costs by preventing future resource
depletion.
Energy taxes
Some countries employ energy or
carbon
taxes to motivate energy users to reduce their consumption. As detailed in
the book, Green Illusions, carbon taxes
can allow consumption to shift to nuclear power and other alternatives that
carry a different set of environmental side effects and limitations. Meanwhile,
taxes on all energy consumption stand to reduce energy use across the board,
while reducing a broader array of environmental consequences arising from
energy production. The State of California employs a tiered energy tax whereby
every consumer receives a baseline energy allowance that carries a low tax. As
usage increases above that baseline, the tax is increasing drastically. Such
programs aim to protect poorer households while creating a larger tax burden
for high energy consumers.
Building Design
One of the primary ways to improve energy conservation in
buildings is to use an energy audit. An energy audit is an inspection
and analysis of energy use and flows for energy conservation in a building,
process or system to reduce the amount of energy input into the system without
negatively affecting the output(s). This is normally accomplished by trained
professionals and can be part of some of the national programs discussed above.
In addition, recent development of smartphone
apps enable homeowners to complete relativily sophisticated energy audits
themselves.
Building technologies and smart meters can allow energy
users, business and residential, to see graphically the impact their energy use
can have in their workplace or homes. Advanced real-time energy metering is
able to help people save energy by their actions.
Elements of passive solar design, shown in a direct gain
application
In passive solar building design,
windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar
energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the
summer. This is called passive solar design or climatic design because, unlike
active solar heating systems, it doesn't involve the use of
mechanical and electrical devices.
The key to designing a passive solar building is to best
take advantage of the local climate. Elements to be considered include window placement
and glazing type, thermal insulation, thermal
mass, and shading. Passive solar design techniques can be applied most
easily to new buildings, but existing buildings can be retrofitted.
Transportation
In the United States, suburban infrastructure evolved during
an age of relatively easy access to fossil fuels, which has led to
transportation-dependent systems of living. Zoning reforms that allow greater
urban density as well as designs for walking and bicycling can greatly reduce
energy consumed for transportation. The use of telecommuting by major
corporations is a significant opportunity to conserve energy, as many Americans
now work in service jobs that enable them to work from home instead of
commuting to work each day.
Consumer products
Consumers are often poorly informed of the savings of energy
efficient products. The research one must put into conserving energy often is
too time consuming and costly when there are cheaper products and technology
available using today's fossil fuels. Some governments and NGOs are attempting
to reduce this complexity with ecolabels that make differences in energy efficiency easy to
research while shopping.
To provide the kind of information and support people need
to invest money, time and effort in energy conservation, it is important to
understand and link to people's topical concerns. For instance, some retailers
argue that bright lighting stimulates purchasing. However, health studies have
demonstrated that headache, stress, blood
pressure, fatigue and worker error all generally increase with the common over-illumination
present in many workplace and retail settings. It has been shown that natural daylighting
increases productivity levels of workers, while reducing energy consumption.
Energy conservation by the countries
At the end of 2006, the European
Union (EU) pledged to cut its annual consumption of primary energy by 20%
by 2020. The 'European Union Energy Efficiency Action Plan' is long awaited. As
part of the EU's SAVE Programme,
aimed at promoting energy efficiency and encouraging energy-saving behaviour,
the Boiler
Efficiency Directive specifies minimum levels of efficiency for boilers fired
with liquid or gaseous fuels.
India
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) www.pcra.org is an Indian government body
created in 1977 and engaged in promoting energy efficiency and conservation in
every walk of life. In the recent past PCRA has done mass media campaigns in
television, radio & print media. An impact assessment survey by a third
party revealed that due to these mega campaigns by PCRA, overall awareness
level have gone up leading to saving of fossil fuels worth crores of
rupees(Indian currency) besides reducing pollution.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency is an
Indian governmental organization created in 2001 responsible for promoting
energy efficiency and conservation.
Iran
In Iran
the Iranian Fuel Conservation Company is responsible for promoting energy
efficiency and conservation for fossil fuels. The administration decreased the
fuel subsidies primarily to reduce the effect of rapidly intensifying energy
consumption on Iran's economy.
Japan
Since the 1973
oil crisis, energy conservation has been an issue in Japan. All oil based
fuel is imported, so indigenous sustainable energy is being developed.
The Energy
Conservation Center promotes energy efficiency in every aspect of Japan. Public
entities are implementing the efficient use of energy for industries and
research.
Lebanon
In Lebanon and since 2002 The Lebanese Center for
Energy Conservation (LCEC) has been promoting the development of efficient
and rational uses of energy and the use of renewable energy at the consumer
level. It was created as a project financed by the International Environment
Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Energy Water (MEW) under the management of
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and gradually established
itself as an independent technical national center although it continues to be
supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as indicated in
the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between MEW and UNDP on June 18,
2007.
New Zealand
In New Zealand the Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Authority is the Government Agency responsible for promoting
energy efficiency and conservation. The Energy
Management Association of New Zealand is a membership based organization
representing the New Zealand energy services sector, providing training and
accreditation services with the aim of ensuring energy management services are
credible and dependable.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka currently consumes fossil
fuels, hydro power, wind power,
solar
power and dendro power for their day to day power generation. The Sri Lanka
Sustainable Energy Authority is playing a major role regarding energy
management and energy conservation. Today, most of the industries are requested
to reduce their energy consumption by using renewable energy sources and
optimizing their energy usage.
Asia Pacific
Despite the vital role energy efficiency is envisaged to
play in cost-effectively cutting energy demand, only a small part of its
economic potential is exploited in the Asia Pacific. Governments have
implemented a range of subsidies such as cash grants, cheap credit, tax
exemptions, and co-financing with public-sector funds to encourage a range of
energy-efficiency initiatives across several sectors. Governments in the
Asia-Pacific region have implemented a range of information provision and
labeling programs for buildings, appliances, and the transportation and
industrial sectors. Information programs can simply provide data, such as
fuel-economy labels, or actively seek to encourage behavioral changes, such as
Japan’s Cool Biz program that encourages setting air conditioners at 28-degrees
Celsius and allowing employees to dress casually in the summer. More in Pacific Energy
Summit.
United States
The United States is currently the second largest single
consumer of energy, following China. The U.S. Department of Energy categorizes
national energy use in four broad sectors: transportation, residential,
commercial, and industrial.
Energy usage in transportation and residential sectors,
about half of U.S. energy consumption, is largely controlled by individual consumers.
Commercial and industrial energy expenditures are determined by businesses
entities and other facility managers. National energy policy has a significant
effect on energy usage across all four sectors.
Nigeria
In Nigeria, the Lagos State Government is encouraging
Lagosians to imbibe an energy conservation culture. The Lagos State Electricity Board (LSEB) is
spearheading an initiative tagged “Conserve Energy, Save Money” under the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources. The initiative is designed to sensitize
Lagosians around the theme of energy conservation by connecting with and
influencing their behavior through do-it-yourself tips and
exciting interaction with prominent personalities. In September 2013, Governor
Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State and Africa’s #1 rapper Jude ‘MI’ Abaga
(campaign
ambassador) participated in the Governor’s first ever
Google+ Hangout on YouTube on the topic of energy conservation.
In addition to the hangout, during the month of October (the
official energy conservation month in the state), LSEB hosted experience
centers in malls around Lagos State where members of the public were encouraged
to calculate their current household energy consumption and discover ways to
save money by conserving energy. To get Lagosians started on energy
conservation, Solar Lamps and Phillips Energy-saving bulbs were given out at
each experience center. Pictures from the experience centers: (part of
Lagos state government energy initiatives)
Nepal
Until recently, Nepal has been focusing on the exploitation of its huge water
resources to produce hydro power. Demand side management and energy conservation
was not in the focus of government action. In 2009, bilateral Development
Cooperation between Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany, has agreed upon
the joint implementation of “Nepal Energy Efficiency Programme”. The lead
executing agencies for the implementation are the Water and Energy Commission
Secretariat (WECS). The aim of the programme is the promotion of energy
efficiency in policy making, in rural and urban households as well as in the
industry. Due to the lack of a government organization that promotes energy
efficiency in the country, the Federation
of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has established the
Energy Efficiency Centre under his roof to promote energy conservation in the
private sector. The Energy Efficiency Centre is a non-profit initiative that is
offering energy auditing services to the industries. The Centre is also
supported by Nepal Energy Efficiency Programme of Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. A study conducted in 2012
found out that Nepalese industries could save 160,000 Megawatt hours of
electricity and 8,000 Terajoule of thermal energy (like diesel, furnace oil and
coal) every year. These savings are equivalent to annual energy cost cut of up
to 6.4 Billion Nepalese Rupees. As a result of Nepal Economic Forum
2014, an economic reform agenda in the priority sectors was declared focusing
on energy conservation among others. In the energy reform agenda the government
of Nepal gave the commitment to introduce incentive packages in the budget of
the fiscal year 2015/16 for industries that practices energy efficiency or use
efficient technologies (incl. cogeneration).
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