458 CHAPTER 18 Renewable Energy Resources
Energy Solutions: Conservation
and Efficiency
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Distinguish between energy conservation
and energy efficiency and give examples
of each. - Summarize options to conserve energy
at home.
H
uman requirements for energy will continue
to increase, if only because the human popu-
lation is growing. In addition, energy con-
sumption continues to increase as developing
countries raise their standards of living. We must there-
fore place a high priority not only on developing alterna-
tive sources of energy but on energy conservation and
energy efficiency.
To illustrate the difference between energy conserva-
tion and energy efficiency, let’s consider automobile gaso-
line consumption. Energy conservation measures to reduce
gasoline consumption would in-
clude carpooling and lowering
driving speeds, whereas energy ef-
ficiency measures would include
designing and manufacturing au-
tomobiles that travel farther on a
gallon of fuel. Conservation and
efficiency accomplish the same
goal— saving energy.
Many energy experts con-
sider energy conservation and
energy efficiency the most prom-
ising energy “sources” available because they save en-
ergy for future use and buy us time to explore new
energy alternatives. Developing technologies for energy
conservation and efficiency costs less than developing
new sources or supplies of energy; the technologies also
improve the economy’s productivity. The adoption of
energy-efficient technologies generates new business
opportunities, including the research, development,
manufacture, and marketing of those technologies.
Energy-efficient technologies and greater efforts at
conservation also provide important environmental ben-
efits by reducing air pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions
that contribute to global climate change, acid precipita-
tion, and other environmental problems are related to
large quantities of energy production and consumption.Energy Consumption
Trends and Economics
Although the U.S. economy has become more energy ef-
ficient, total energy consumption continues to slowly in-
crease, partly due to an increase in population. The per
person energy consumption in developing nations is sub-
stantially less than that in industrialized countries (see
Figure 17.1a), but the greatest per person increase in en-
ergy consumption today is occurring in these developing
nations, particularly in China and India. The rising energy
demand in developing nations is caused by increases in eco-
nomic development and population, as well as the use of
older, less expensive, and less energy-efficient technologies.
Developing countries are forced to balance develop-
ing their economies with controlling environmental deg-
radation. At first glance, these two goals appear mutually
exclusive. However, both can be realized by adopting the
new technologies now being developed in industrialized
nations to achieve greater energy efficiency.Energy-Efficient Technologies
The development of more efficient appliances, auto-
mobiles, buildings, and industrial processes has helped
reduce energy consumption in highly developed
countries. Compact fluorescent light bulbs produce
light of comparable quality to that of incandescent
light bulbs but require only 25 percent of the energy
and last up to 15 times longer (see chapter opener).
Although relatively expensive, the energy-efficient
bulbs more than pay for themselves in energy savings.
New condensing furnaces require approximately 30
percent less fuel than conventional gas furnaces. “Su-
perinsulated” buildings use 70 to 90 percent less heat
energy than buildings insulated using standard meth-
ods (Figure 18.13).energy
conservation
Using less energy—
by reducing energy
use and waste, for
example.
energy efficiency
Using less energy
to accomplish a
given task—by using
new technology, for
example.