Dana Zlateff, Environmental Science and Regional planning
The energy dilemma is the most serious economic and environmental threat facing the western world and its high standard of living. The only answer to this problem is conservation. Conservation not only postpones shortages of fossil fuels and reduces environmental damage, but also can save considerable amounts of money. This message is only slowly reaching the audience.
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 discussion of related 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.
WSU/Pullman can lower energy
consumption by posting a list of energy conserving tips in apartments,
offices or even doorsteps throughout campus and town. Using fluorescent
lights, wrapping hot water tanks, caulking windows, and installing other
energy efficient measures can substantially reduce operating costs.
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.
The Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) Green Lights program was launched on January 1991 to prevent pollution
by encouraging organizations to use energy efficient light technologies
in their offices, factories, stores and warehouses (IIEC, 1997).
Also, Washington State Energy Office (WSEO) in cooperation with Washington
Water Power, Seattle City Light, Tacoma Public Utilities, and Snohomish
County PUD has designed effective energy conservation programs.
The Green Lights program
offers an opportunity to prevent pollution and do so at a profit.
If energy efficient lighting was used wherever profitable, the nations
demand for electricity would be cut more than 10%, leading to 4%-7% reductions
in total emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
(IIEC, 1997). "EPA finds that this reduction in emissions of carbon
dioxide is equivalent to removing 40 million cars to the road." The program
is completely voluntary. The way it works is that the involved organization
must install energy efficient lighting systems in 90% of its United States
facilities over a five year period. EPA assists organizations by
providing a list of manufacturers and companies that produce energy efficient
lighting products and advises on the selection of the best energy efficient
lighting upgrades to maximize energy savings and profitability (IIEC, 1997).
In relation to WSU/Pullman it would be nice to see the WSU campus participating
in this Green Lights program. It would be greatly beneficial to students,
faculty and the community. The Green Lights program started in 1991
with 40 participants and currently there are 691 organizations. Participant's
annual electric bills have been reduced by 7 million dollars and the average
electricity reduction for Green Lights participants was 52% (IIEC). Growth
is still continuing.
S.1.e. Replace old inefficient appliances with newer more efficient
models can save energy, monetary and material resources.
S.1.f. Use appliances more efficiently to save energy, monetary
and material resources.
The benefits of new energy
efficient appliances is that they are saving energy, money and making an
environmental contributions. These appliances also feature quieter operation
and more interior space (AHAM).
For example, water heating
is the second largest household energy user after space heating and cooling.
The average family spends $160-$390 a year to heat water (Glickman, 1997).
Strategies to conserve energy, heating your water, is to reduce hot water
you currently use, make current heaters more efficient, or get a new energy
efficient model. Lowering the thermostat to120-130 degrees
Fahrenheit can save $45 per year and reduce the risk of burns from tap
water. Wrapping the water heater with insulation can save a dollar
a month. Installing hand held shower heads and taking quicker showers with
flow restrictors instead of baths can save both energy and water.
Water conservation fascets are available at no charge from most energy
and/or community agencies. Turn off the electricity to the water
heater at the main fuse box if you tend to be gone more than three days.
Use cold water with sink disposals. Cold water solidifies grease so the
disposal can get rid of it easier. Do household cleaning with cold water.
Use cold water when washing clothes. 25% of home electricity is used
to heat water for laundry.
S.1.g. Install horizontal axis washing machines in WSU dorms.
Horizontal axis washing machines
in dorms on campus could save a substantial amount of money, energy and
water.
In the short run, energy efficiency
and conservation will be crucial in reducing the demand for and supply
of fossil fuels and their emissions. 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.
Top priority should be given to
energy efficiency improvements and development of environmental sound technologies.
Regulatory policies should mandate an improvement in efficiency of energy
use for appliances, lighting, transportation, and production technologies
(Trudeau, 1991). Specific measures can be taken such as mandatory
thermostat adjustments (Trudeau, 1991). Price and non price incentives
may increase conservation, and technologies should be developed and used
to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
Thank you for visiting our web
page. We appreciate your interest in energy conservation. We
hope our ideas have enlightened you and will encourage your participation.
References
Athes, 1997. Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM): Illinois, In
Glickman, 1997. Consumer Research. "Heat Your Water Efficiently". Jan. p. 25-27.
IIEC, 1998. International Institute for Energy Conservation. http://www.crest.org/efficiency/irt/35.htm
Trudeau, 1991. Energy for a Habitable World: A Call for Action.
Hemisphere Publishing Co. 1991
