This chapter highlights some of the efforts
being taken to remedy the situation. It shows
a wide variety of examples used to conserve
energy. It also discusses alternative methods
of generating energy.
Ways to Conserve
Energy
If the demand for electricity were reduced,
there would also be a reduction in the use of
coal, oil, gas, and nuclear materials. Consider
what it would mean to the environment to
reduce the use of these materials. It would
reduce the air pollution that comes from
burning the material to produce electricity. It
would also reduce pollution that results from
mining the material, transporting the mate-
rial, removing waste, and cleaning the envi-
ronment. All of this is affected by the choices
we make concerning conservation.
There are some ways that people can
help conserve energy by choices they make
on a daily basis. Three areas in a home in
which it is easy to waste energy, but also easy
to conserve it, are lighting, hot water, and
heating and cooling. This section discusses
each of these areas, shows where waste reduc-
tion is possible, and gives some simple ideas
about how to conserve energy.
Lighting
Lighting is an ever present need. However,
the need for light can easily turn into waste-
fulness by leaving unnecessary lights turned
on or by using ineffi cient bulbs.
One simple way to save energy in the
area of lighting is to turn off all lights that
are not being used. If you leave a room and
no one else is in it, turn off the light on your
way out. Do not turn on every light in a
room you enter unless you need them all. For
example, if you are reading, turn on only the
lights that help illuminate your book.
394
Electricity and Basic Electronics
Another way to conserve energy is by
using energy effi cient bulbs. For example, a
compact fl uorescent (CFL) bulb can last up
to 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb.
CFL bulbs only use about 25% of the energy
in an incandescent bulb. However, the light
emitting diode technology that you studied
in Chapter 17 has also been designed for use
in lightbulbs. LED bulbs last up to 25 times
longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. In
addition, they use only 20 to 25% of the energy
in that same incandescent bulb.
In keeping with energy effi ciency labels
on appliances, a new product label has been
established for lightbulbs. See Figure 24-1.
The Federal Trade Commission requires
use of this label to give consumers the
brightness in lumens, the yearly energy cost,
life expectancy, light appearance, and energy
used in watts by each bulb.
Also, many people use motion sensors
for the lights that are outside of their house,
Figure 24-2. The lights turn on only when
someone comes near the home instead of
being on all night when they are not needed,
which saves energy.
Hot Water
Heating water is one of the biggest energy
uses in a home. Hot water is used for many
tasks, such as laundry and showers. Industrial
uses include car washes, boilers in factories,
and various uses in food production. The
problem with heating water is that too much
energy is wasted in the process. There are a
number of ways that energy can be conserved
and the cost reduced.
The ways to conserve hot water are simple.
Only use hot water when needed, and try
not to use it for longer than needed. The way
hot water is heated can also create savings.
The type of hot water heater can make a big
difference.
Normally, water is heated in a tank,
making it ready for use. Using a faucet on the
far side of the house may result in cold water