Lesson #4
Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation is the practice of reducing energy consumption while maintaining the same productivity level or comfort. It is essential for environmental sustainability and cost savings.
Lets look at some of the best energy conservation practices
1. Natural Lighting
The easiest way to conserve energy is to turn on the lights a bit less and use natural sunlight especially during daytime.
2. Home Insulation
Insulating walls and cracks to prevent drafts can reduce heating and thereby the need for cooling energy consumption.
3. Unplug Appliances
Plugged in appliances still use energy when turned off called phantom loads. Unplug the irregularly used appliances and use smart power strips for the plugged in ones. These strips disconnect power to those devices automatically.
5. Change to LED Lighting- They use significantly less electricity and last longer.
6. Cold Water clothes washing- Wash your clothes in cold water and reduce the shower heat.
7. Air-dry clothes- Clothes dryers are huge consumers of electricity hence switch to airdrying. This will also help clothes to last longer.
8. Invest in Solar Panels- This not only reduces the energy bill but also helps the environment.
9. Optimise refrigerator and freezer settings- This will ensure minimum energy use while ensuring food safety.
10. Involve the entire family- Encourage everyone to participate in the energy conservation efforts.
What is Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency?
We conserve energy to reduce our energy bill and the demand for earth’s natural resources.
Conservation is when we decide to practice and use less energy. This requires changes in behavioral habits like switching off lights when leaving a room, unplugging appliances when not in use, etc. Energy efficiency on the other hand is the efficient use of technology i.e.
switching over to technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. Using LED light and smart power strips are examples of this.
Will Energy conservation and efficiency work?
Even if all buildings are energy efficient, smart meters monitor energy use, carbon taxes are in place and public transport works on renewable energy we are not sure whether it will offset the growing consumption needs.
Plugged in appliances still use energy when turned off called phantom loads. Unplug the irregularly used appliances and use smart power strips for the plugged in ones. These strips disconnect power to those devices automatically.
This is because economic growth and rate of consumption of energy are directly proportional. As we adapt to modern ways of life one is sceptical if any amount of energy conservation would be enough to offset the consumption effects.
Suggested Activities
- Conduct an energy audit at home by assessing energy consumption and identify energysaving practices.
- Research on a specific aspect of energy conservation such as sustainability in transportation, technologies that are energy efficient and make a research report.
Additional Learning Resources
- ENERGY STAR Kids Page
- Explore energy with Energy Ant.
- Energy Efficiency: Buildings and Industry