ENERGY CONSERVATION EDUCATION

Stephanie Griffin, Environmental Science and Regional Planning

        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 we struggle to cope with the current energy problems and the larger crisis to come, we need to find a method to spread the word.  Even here in the United States, one of the most educated countries on earth, very few people truly understand the energy crisis or work to conserve energy unless they are forced to by environmental problems and/or public policies.
        During the 1970's, the fuel crisis came to a head with gasoline shortages, long lines at the pump and soaring fuel costs.  Only then, when faced with a day to day crisis, did  the US act to lessen their gasoline consumption.  Legislation was enacted to produce more fuel efficient cars, to search for alternative forms of fuel and to reduce our dependence on foreign oil supplies.  If we had begun these types of changes a decade before, we may have averted the energy crisis or at least lessened the effects but no one knew of the coming crisis.
        Now, as we approach the end of the century, we do know that a life threatening energy crisis looms in our not to distant future but we also have some strategies for fighting back.  Alternative forms of energy are once again being considered, building codes are slowly incorporating energy saving requirements even though research into energy conservation has a proven effectiveness.  However, if we do not find a way to educate the US public about the coming crisis and what they can do as individuals and as communities to help, all the effort by scientists will not be able to save us. Energy conservation education is paramount to all of our sustainable goals for the future.

Indicators, Strategies and Benefits

        The indicator (I’s in bold and underlined) measures progress towards achieving energy conservation through education. The strategies (S’s in bold) are recommended actions to improve each indicator. The I’s and S’s are followed by an exploration of the social, economic and environmental benefits.

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.
        A public education campaign directed over television, through pamphlets and in community centers would help the average home owner, renter or apartment dweller understand that saving energy is not only good for the environment but will save them money in the long run.  Programs could include such things as taking shorter showers, turning the water off while you brush your teeth, setting the home thermostat at 68 degrees and turning off unused appliances when not in use.  Education at the retailer could include large stickers on new household appliances that will help buyers be good consumers by giving them average energy costs and usage for each model of appliance.
        The education campaign should be tailored to different regions, types of living situations and types of programs that will work best.  Regions that experience extremes in temperature would have significantly different education concerning weather proofing, insulation, solar strategies (winter-sun and summer-shade) and other conservation resources available.  Denver, Colorado has significantly different energy conservation needs than Las Vegas, Nevada.  A National campaign could be enacted to education the whole nation regarding the energy crisis, the need for conservation and general conservation ideas but education must also be given at the local level.
        Home builders could receive education from contractors, architects and building supply stores regarding weather proofing, efficient home building and appliances.  Education should permeate all levels of society and the suppliers and consumers should not be exempt.
        The result of such education, if effective, would be a national and regional decrease in energy use.  The reduction of energy use will show up as savings on the monthly power bill, making further incentive to reduce the dependency on energy.  Local savings would be retained within the family and community, instead of exported outside the region or country.  This fosters a more sustainable economy.

S.2.b. Create and implement a training program for employees.
        Once a home energy education plan is in place, energy conservation at work should not be difficult.  Depending on the type of workplace environment, many of the conservation strategies will be the same.  Turn off unused lights and appliances, conserve water in bathrooms and keep the doors and windows shut to maximize temperature control appliances.  The workplace is an ideal environment for energy conservation education because you essentially have a captive audience for your program.  A workplace program should include basic conservation efforts such as turning off lights, using only the equipment you need for a job and making only enough copies for the project.
        On a larger scale, employees should be educated to the energy usage in their work areas.  Not only will this education help them understand their job better but it can encourage employees to take ownership in their workplace by making energy saving suggestions and reporting energy waste.  Such reporting should be encouraged and acted upon by management.  Often times, an employee who is at a work station all day will have good suggestions and see more problems in a system than the plant engineer or owner.  Educate the employees at all levels and help them conserve energy in the workplace.
        Conserving energy in the workplace will serve a two-fold purpose: 1) Reduce energy costs for the company which will result in higher efficiency, profits and hopefully, employee salaries and benefits.  2) Give the employees ownership in their workplace and empower them to make important energy saving suggestions.  These purposes cannot be fulfilled unless the employee is educated about the issues.

S.2.c. Educate the vacationer in energy and fuel saving strategies.
        A favorite US pass time seems to be wasting energy.  We drive cars on long vacations that are not fuel efficient, spend money on electric media and recreate using large motor homes/vehicles.  Motor homing, travel and driving itself are some favorite pass times but all of these activities needlessly waste fuel.  We go to concerts, watch movies and sit in front of the TV for days which is a supreme waste of energy, not to mention bad for our health.  We ride snow mobiles, all terrain vehicles (ATV) and motor bikes for fun, once again wasting precious fossil fuels.  This is an area of our lives where we waste tremendous amounts of energy but do not really know that we are doing it.  An education program aimed at these types of energy wasting pass times could help reduce energy use locally, in the United States and the world.
        Education regarding vehicle and ATV use should have two different approaches: 1) There are less energy intense forms of recreation available.  2) If you are going to use vehicles to recreate, they should be in top working order and as fuel efficient as possible.  Educate the public that as consumers, they can demand higher fuel efficiency vehicles, electric vehicles and vehicles that use alternative energy.  All vehicles should be kept in perfect working condition to ensure that they are using energy as efficiently as possible.  This type of education should come from the dealers much like appliance sellers.  Children should be educated in school, on TV and especially at home that there are methods of recreation that use little or no energy that can be just as fulfilling.  Parents can teach their children to enjoy skiing, snow shoeing or sledding instead of snow mobiles, bike riding instead of driving (demanding more safe bikeways), etc.  We have a responsibility to teach our children young to do the right thing for the environment and the human future.
        The benefits of educating our public to use less fuel/energy intensive recreation are tremendous.  Much of the fuel use every year  goes to fuel motor homes, cars traveling to tourist sites and recreation vehicles.  We spend copious quantities of time, energy and money sitting in front of the TV, video games and movies.  Education efforts must start young and within the families and schools and we will see a reduction in fuel and energy use.

Conclusion

        People must stop taking energy services for granted.  We must educate our population on the benefits of energy conservation and the means to achieve our goals.  Without basic education of the public at home, work and at play, we will not be able to reduce our energy demands.  If we cannot reduce our energy demands, we may not have time to make the sweeping changes in energy use paradigms before the crippling and potentially deadly world wide energy crisis is upon us.
        Thank you for reading this report on energy conservation education.  We hope that this information has provided some food for thought and maybe made you question your own energy usage.  After all, this Green Guide is an educational tool in itself and the goal is to make you, the reader, question and possibly improve your energy use habits.