Energy efficiency. Alternative energy sources.

Alternative energy sources. There are many reasons we are looking towards alternative energy sources. Alternative or renewable energy, sources show significant promise in helping to reduce the amount of toxins that are by-products of energy use. Not only do they protect against harmful by-products, but using alternative energy helps to preserve many of the natural resources that we currently use as sources of energy.
Wind Power. Wind energy was used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water. Wind power produces no pollution that can contaminate the environment, since no chemical processes take place in wind power generation.
Solar Power.Solar energy is used commonly for heating, cooking, the production of electricity, and even in the desalination of seawater. Solar power works by trapping the sun's rays into solar cells where this sunlight is then converted into electricity.

Geothermal Energy. Geothermal energy harnesses the heat energy present underneath the Earth. Hot rocks under the ground heat water to produce steam. When holes are drilled in the region, the steam that shoots up is purified and is used to drive turbines, which power electric generators.

Energy efficiency is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Energy efficiency-low consumption in industry.

Appliances are another huge success story for energy efficiency, driven largely by mandatory federal standards. Laws passed in 1987 and 1992 have saved over $15 billion in energy costs. Under the 1997 Montreal Protocol, governments agreed to phase out chemicals used as refrigerants that have the potential to destroy stratospheric ozone.

According to "Energy Innovations," residential and commercial energy use can be cut an additional 25 to 50 percent using technology available today. Modern energy-efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, stoves, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers, use significantly less energy than older appliances.

According to a 2009 study from McKinsey & Company the replacement of old appliances is one of the most efficient global measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Lack of information is one of the biggest reasons why consumers aren't able to fully exploit their potential energy savings. Government, utilities and industries acting together can help lower the cost of getting information to consumers similar to labeling food products makes it easier to select the cheapest, most nutritional ones. New technologies on the horizon will greatly lower the cost of informing electric utility customers, demystifying the relationships between consumption and your bill.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 942