Mitigation Strategies and Solutions: Energy Conservation

Energy Conservation 1

Energy conservation is the reduction or elimination of unnecessary energy use and waste. This practice may result in increase human comfort, personal security, national security, environmental value, and financial capital. There are many activities that people can do to conserve energy and help not only themselves, but also the environment and everyone around them. Conserving energy is important because most of our current energy sources are not renewable. When using renewable resources such as biomass, water, geothermal, wind, and solar there will be fewer pollutants in the air. Nonrenewable resources such as coal, petroleum, natural gases, and nuclear power take millions of years to reform again and eventually will become to costly to harvest then humans would have to other sources for energy.

Nonliving factors that contribute or are affected by energy consumption are sunlight, temperature, precipitation, water, and soil. Sunlight and temperature are both contributions to energy consumption. By using the sunlight and the temperature we can use other renewable resources for sources of light and energy instead of using the nonrenewable resources we currently use. Water and soil are affected by sunlight and temperature already.

Living factors that may contribute or be affected by energy consumption are herbivores (animals that only eat plants), carnivores (Animals that feed on other animals or material of animal origin), and omnivores (Animals that feed on material of both plant and animal origin). When the plants are affected by energy consumption that means that there are less of them for the herbivores to eat and stay alive. If these herbivores don’t have food to eat and stay healthy they will die and the carnivores which feed off of them may get sick and pass on themselves. Omnivores are affected because they may also get sick from eating plants and other animals which are unhealthy due to lack of energy.

An example of positive human impact for energy conservation would be that humans have come up with new ideas to create energy such as renewable sources. Also there have been contributions to help with energy conservation efforts. For example, undergraduate students at the University of Guelph have done have committed 4.3 million dollars to improve energy efficiency on campus. The students were asked to contribute $10 a month for 12 months to go to energy conservation for the school. The school itself will match what the students raise. Adam Scott a University of Guelph student tell the University of Guelph staff (2007) “This really shows that students care about the environment and are willing to take action, even if that action means a few extra dollars out of their pockets.” Staff and faculty will also have an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing energy conservation efforts. They will have the option to pledge a portion of their salary each pay period; this money will also be matched by the University. (2008), There is also grant funding offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines.

Depending on what types of resources which are used to conserve energy it may cause a negative impact. Using Renewable resources which are replaced rapidly would not be negative because no matter what is used it can be replaced easily. However if

Energy Conservation 2

nonrenewable resources are all used up them it is harder to redeem them again which may cause more of an issue and make whatever current progress made retract and possibly go back to the original issue. Depletion of resources is threatening sustainable development of mankind. An increased greenhouse gas is changing the climate and this is one of the most serious issues in analyzing energy system. Reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions will help to conserve energy.

The plan to sustain energy conservation is to develop an education program about ways to conserve energy and their effects, schedule a presentation day and time, invite community members, and research the effects of nonrenewable resources.

Action Items Action Steps Timeline

Research and identify the effects of nonrenewable and renewable resources. Review environmental Web sites. Document the sources of nonrenewable and renewable and both environmental and health