Stephanie Griffin and Dana Zlateff, Environmental Science and Regional Planning

         "People like to take energy services for granted.  They expect the services to be inexpensive and convenient, available by inserting a plug or by driving up to a gasoline pump.  The more invisible they are the better. This is a problem for encouraging and rewarding behavior that improves energy efficiency, where seeing is believing" (Wilbanks, 1994).
        The coming energy crisis is the most serious economic, social and environmental threat facing the world, second only to the population crisis (Koren, 1991).  As the world fossil fuel supplies decrease, the demand for these energy sources continue to increase in industrialized countries and developing countries alike.  At a current rate, we will completely deplete all the world's fossil fuel supplies within the next 50 to 100 years.  Oil and gas accounted for nearly 78% of U.S. energy consumption in the 1970's and that number has not declined significantly in the last 20 years (Koren, 1991).  In the USA, all the major rivers are already dammed for hydraulic power, nuclear power plants are declining in popularity and Federal money is not being spent to develop alternative fuel sources.  The limited energy potential combined with an ever increasing demand for energy is going to create energy shortages, cost increases and eventually cause us to change our entire way of life.
        We rely on energy to fuel our vehicle, power our factories, light our homes, make our clothing and harvest our food.  In the USA, there is no portion of our social, work or home life that does not require energy.  As energy costs skyrocket and supplies run low, we will have to significantly alter our lifestyle to compensate.  Medical costs will skyrocket, travel will become a recreational sport for the rich and environmental degradation will accelerate as we struggle to produce more energy.
        As a global community, a country and a university, there are measures we can take to head off this disaster before it becomes reality.  The first step we need to take is energy conservation on a massive scale, as well as, developing alternative renewable energy sources.

Indicators, strategies and Benefits

        The indicators (I's in bold and underlined) measure progress towards achieving energy conservation.  The strategies (S's in bold) are recommended actions to improve each indicator.  The I's and S's are followed by a brief statement of social, economic and environmental benefits.

I.1. Conserve energy use in buildings by design-modeling the energy costs per square foot of each proposed and existing building.
S.1.a. Establish an education campaign to inform citizens of methods to reduce energy use.  Post energy conserving tips in apartments and work places throughout the campus and community.
S.1.b. Design with passive energy measures (building orientation, placement, window patterns, winter-sun/summer-shade,etc.).
S.1.c. Weatherize buildings and install air locks and/or double sealing doors.
S.1.d. Design with daylighting and high efficiency, automatic electric lighting.
S.1.e. Replace old inefficient appliances with newer more efficient models.
S.1.f.  Use appliances more efficiently to save energy, monetary and material resources.
S.1.g. Install horizontal axis washing machines in WSU dorms.
       Reducing our energy needs now, changing our fuel consumption habits and making processes and buildings more energy efficient will serve two benefits.  First, it will reduce the demand for ecologically damaging fossil fuels.  Second, it will ultimately reduce the cost that consumers pay for energy every year.  Energy saving technologies and efficiency policies can bring about real economic benefits and help to preserve the limited and costly fossil fuels for alternative uses. New energy efficient appliances will save money, energy and making an important environmental contribution.

* For further explanation of the above "click" on the report: ENERGY EFFICIENCY and CONSERVATION by Dana Zlateff

I.2. Reduce energy use in the home, the workplace and during recreational activities.
S.2.a. Establish an education campaign directly aimed at the home environment.
S.2.b. Create and implement a training program for employees.
S.2.c. Educate the vacationer in energy and fuel saving strategies.
         The benefits are reduced energy use and cost.  Reducing costs will catch the publics attention and then, more people will listen to more conservation ideas.

* For further explanation of the above "click" on the report:  ENERGY CONSERVATION EDUCATION by Stephanie Griffin

        Energy Conservation and efficiency are more than buzz words, they are true hope in changing our energy consumption behavior.  The world energy crisis is coming, we cannot avoid it by ignoring it, but we can begin, right now.  Turn off unused lights and appliances, read a book instead of watching TV, shut the door when it is cold outside, and turn off the water faucet when you are brushing your teeth.  There are literally thousands of ways to begin conserving in our everyday lives.  This is not a problem that is so big that your daily contributions will not make a significant difference.  Energy conservation and efficiency should become a way of life.  The days of using and wasting energy "just because it is there" are gone, we must change our paradigm to reduce our dependency on energy and to use the energy we do need wisely.