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Energy Conservation
Definition:
When it comes to trying to define "to be energy efficient" or "energy efficiency", there does not seem to be a single commonly-accepted definition of energy efficiency due to differing perspectives. In general, energy efficiency or conservation can be the reduction of carbon emissions or expenditures related to the use of fossil fuels or other forms of energy (source).
Energy Savings:
Energy Star qualified products and potential cost and energy savings.
Refridgerators and Freezers: refrigerator models use at least 20% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.
Televisions: use about 30% less energy than standard units.
Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs: use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.
Computer Monitors: use from 25–60% less electricity than standard models, depending on how they are used. Save $25 to $75 annually per computer with power management features.
Combined heat and power (CHP)or cogeneration: an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. The average efficiency of fossil-fueled power plants in the United States is 33%; CHP systems typically achieve total system efficiencies of 60 to 80% for producing electricity and thermal energy.
Benefits:
- Energy conservation is a broad topic. Improvements can be made in many sectors of society, including personal behaviors, all buildings, appliances and lighting, power generation, transportation, and landscaping.
- Lessen reliance on fossil fuels, a non-renewable energy source.
- Increased energy efficiency or conservation typically results in lower fuel costs.
- Less power is needed by end user which lessens the amount of pollution created by power plants.
- State and federal incentive programs are available.
- We can learn from past generations who used less energy.
Challenges:
- Typically higher cost for energy efficient technologies. Payback period varies.
- Technologies, especially cost effective ones, are still evolving.
- Changes to the existing system, infrastructure, and behaviors may be slow.
Tools / Incentives:
- US Deptpartment of Energy: http://www.energy.gov/energyefficiency/index.htm
The Department of Energy is committed to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and developing energy efficient technologies for buildings, homes, transportation, power systems and industry.
- U.S. Green Building Council: http://www.usgbc.org/
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. Their mission is: to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. Search the LEED projects database.
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory - Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/eere/
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Program develops sustainable energy technologies to create a cleaner environment, a stronger economy, and a more secure future for our nation. The Program is committed to expanding energy resource options and to improving efficiency in every element of energy production and use.
- Residential Energy Performance Association: http://www.repa-nh.org/
The New Hampshire Residential Energy Performance Association (REPA) is an organization made up of individual Residential Energy Auditors and Weatherization Professionals providing energy efficiency services in NH. Our objective is to improve and expand our understanding, skills, and delivery of the "House as a System" residential energy efficiency technology.
- Clean Air Cool Planet: web-based "how-to" guide called the Community Toolkit
- MGPlanning, LLC: Planner’s Handbook on Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
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Design Standards /
Land Use Regulations
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Related Images
(click image to for more info)
Renewable Energy Cost Trends
Gold Level LEED Certified, Langdon Woods at Plymouth State Univeristy. Plymouth, NH
The Forest Society's energy-efficient, passive solar design. Concord, NH
Green Construction Techniques at the Highland Center. Bretton Woods, NH
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