Transcript How Can We Cut Energy Waste

How Can We Cut Energy
Waste
By: Alex and Nick
What Makes Up Energy Consumption in
the U.S. and the World and how can we
decrease our energy consumption?
Industry accounts for about 30% of the world's
energy consumption and 33% of U.S. energy
consumption.
One solution to our energy needs are
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems.
Another solution is replacing energy-wasting
motors.
Recycling materials is also an option in
decreasing our energy consumption.
What Makes Up Energy Consumption in the
U.S. and the World and how can we decrease our
energy consumption? (cont.)
The final method of reducing our energy
consumption is switching from low-efficiency
incandescent light bulbs to high-efficiency
fluorescent bulbs and light-emitting diodes
(LEDs)
What are Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
systems and how do they work?
CHP systems are systems that harness two
useful energy sources (i.e. electricity and
steam) from the same fuel source, or
cogeneration.
An example of a CHP in action would be the
steam generated from a power plant being
used to heat nearby homes.
These systems are 75%-90% efficient.
They emit only 1/3 of the CO2 per energy unit
as compared to a standard coal-fired boiler.
Who uses CHP systems?
The biggest user of CHP systems is Denmark
who gets 82% of their electricity from CHP
systems.
The United States is only gets roughly 8% of
our electricity from CHP systems.
China may only get 12% of their electricity from
CHP systems, however they get 60% of their
heat power from CPH in urban areas.
Combined Heat and Power System in Action
Why Replace Energy Wasting
Electric Motors?
Electric motors currently use one fourth of the
electricity produced in the US and 65% of
electricity used in US industry.
These motors are inefficient because they only
run at full speed when their output is throttled
to match the task. This is like keeping you
foot on the gas while using the brake to
control speed.
We could replace these with variable speed
motors which only runs at the minimum rate
required for each job.
Saving Money Through Recycling
Materials
An example of this is using recycled scrap to
produce steel. This process uses 75% less
energy than producing steel from virgin iron
ore and it emits 40% less CO2.
Switching steel production to furnaces such as
these would decrease energy consumption
and carbon emissions.
Switching from low-efficiency
incandescent lighting
Two more efficient systems are fluorescent
lighting and light-emitting diodes(leds).
Compact fluorescent bulbs use one fourth as
much electricity and lasts 10 times longer
than incandescent light bulbs.
LEDs only use one seventh as much electricity
and last 100 times longer than incandescent
light bulbs.
Saving energy and money with a
smart electrical grid
Many experts believe in converting the current
electric grid with a smart grid.
These smart grids are digitally controlled, high
voltage grids that are extremely responsive to
local and regional supply and demand.
China is currently building a smart grid and
plans to manufacture and sell the equipment
used in such a grid.
Saving energy and money with a
smart electrical grid (cont.)
A smart grid would involve smart meters, which
would tell the consumer how much energy
they are using a minute and what appliance
is using it.
This system could then lead to running
appliances during off peak hours, which
results in a cheaper cost for electricity.
Such a system would cost about $200-$800
billion to use in the US, but it would save us
about $100 billion a year.
We can save energy and money in
transportation.
Transportation accounts for 28% of energy
consumption and two thirds of the oil
consumption in the US.
Between 1973 and 1985 fuel efficiency rose
because of government-mandated corporate
average fuel economy or CAFE standards.
Since 1985 the average fuel efficiency for new
cars decreased to about 21 mpg.
We can save energy and money in
transportation. (cont.)
This occurred because there was no increase
in CAFE standards until 2008, and because
mileage for popular trucks and SUVs are low.
The standards in 2008 only called for the US to
increase all cars sold to 35 mpg by 2016,
much below that of other foreign nations such
as Europe and China.
We can save energy and money in
transportation. (cont.)
There is a hidden cost for gas that includes
government subsidies (tax breaks), cost of
pollution control and cleanup, protection of oil
supplies in the middle east, time wasted
idling in traffic jams, and the cost of medical
issues caused by pollution.
The only way to include these hidden costs is
through a gasoline tax which is widely
unpopular in the US.