World Energy Conservation Day is celebrated on the 14th of December every year in hundreds of countries around the world. The intention of this day is to highlight the importance of all things ‘ENERGY’.
Educating the global public provides the foundation to change our over-consumption behaviours.
How important is it in our day-to-day lives?
As humans, we have created a built environment to suit our needs. This requires energy to construct and/or maintain, such as roads, buildings, walls, lights etc. To connect ourselves to this environment, we’ve used energy to produce an energy-powered transport system. Whether driving a car or sitting at work on our computers, we all lead energy-dependent lifestyles hence we must all aim to conserve as much of it as possible for our future use.
How much does it really affect climate change?
Non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum account for three-quarters of the world’s energy supply. Humans have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration by more than a third since the Industrial Revolution began, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Atmospheric CO2 content is considered the most notable contributor to climate change today.
For any country or city working towards becoming a leader in sustainable energy, a step in the right direction would include implementing and enforcing forward-thinking energy policies geared towards the expansion of renewable energy sources and advances in energy-efficiency.
How can we use energy more efficiently and what are the alternatives that can be used?
According to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy, 2010, “At the current reserve to production ratio, oil and gas are expected to last an average of 45-65 years and coal an average of 200 years.” To this day, no other energy supply has proven to be as readily available and economical as fossil fuels.
Developed countries are consistently exploring new avenues to attain energy, as reserves are quickly depleting and climate change impacts continue to worsen. Currently, there are seven main types of renewable energy sources available for human consumption, with hydropower being the most widely used among them.
Recently, a shift has been seen in the automotive and construction industries. Countries are giving their citizens incentives to purchase alternative fuel vehicles (AFV), such as those using biodiesel, compressed natural gas and electricity. In the construction industry, a push towards sustainable building design has given rise to multiple methods of assessment and ‘green’ certifications to address this growing demand.
For any country or city working towards becoming a leader in sustainable energy, a step in the right direction would include implementing and enforcing forward-thinking energy policies geared towards the expansion of renewable energy sources and advances in energy-efficiency.
WE CAN ALL SAVE ENERGY!
We all may not be able to influence energy policies in our countries or purchase an alternative fuel vehicle for our use, but there are simple things that we can all do to help conserve energy.
A few of these include:
- Being frugal at home i.e. turn off lights and unplug electronics that are not in use.
- Do tasks manually on occasion. Eg. Wash dishes by hand or hang clothes to dry.
- Ditch the car and cycle or walk to work, where possible.
- Wash only full loads in your dishwasher and when doing laundry. Washing with cold water also helps save energy on water heating.
- Water-heating is one of the highest energy costs in a typical family home, think about investing in one that is suitable for your family’s needs. Solar water heaters are a widely used energy-saving option throughout the Caribbean.
- Replace your traditional incandescent light bulbs with light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs). These bulbs use an average of 75% less electricity and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Look for that Energy Star® certification on new home materials, appliances, and electrical office supplies. Energy Star® is a trusted, U.S. government-backed symbol for energy efficiency.
There are countless ways we can save energy daily. Some ways are more difficult or time-consuming than others, but all are worth it in the grand scheme of things. By using energy-efficient products and using less energy, you will save money in the long run, save the environment in the short run and save energy for the future. Individual lifestyle changes to save energy can go a long way, especially if 7 billion people make them a habit.
By using energy-efficient products and using less energy, you will save money in the long run, save the environment in the short run and save energy for the future.
