Energy Conservation - A Realistic Approach
Written by Amatocianmonk
2008-07-01
Green Energy
There has been a wave of wanting to go 'green' throughout the world the past few years. People are wanting to save the environment and be clean in everything they do. Many companies are creating products that they call green and environmentally friendly. I would like to examine how much of this is true and how much is just a scam to get people to buy more. It is pretty obvious that there will be companies trying to cash in on the 'go green' phenomenon.
The Energy Saving light bulbs:
This is a pretty obvious one, compact fluorescent lamps(CFL) are very good for the environment and for saving money. Switching home light bulbs from the regular incandescent light bulbs to a CFL bulb saves about $30 in energy costs throughout its lifetime, and even though they cost a bit more than an incandescent bulb when you buy them, they cost less than $30 so it ends up saving you more money that buying that cheaper incandescent bulb.
Alright, well it saves money, that is good and all, but is it actually good for the environment? Yes, it is. CFLs use about 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb. That is 75% less coal that needs to be burned, 75% less nuclear waste, or 75% less of whatever power plant is providing energy to the home that uses CFLs.
[1]
So these are good for the wallet, and good for the environment.
Green, Low-Emision, and Clean Cars:
The hybrid, electric, hydrogen, air, water, and all those special cars that are supposed to either save you money at the pump or save the environment. These are a very good idea in theory for saving the environment, that is, in theory. However, there is one fatal error that almost every single one of these special cars has; It requires energy to create the special fuels for them. To power up your electric car, you plug it into an outlet. That outlet gets energy from a power plant, that power plant more than likely emits pollution when it creates the energy for your car. The same is true for creating the fuel for hydrogen and ethanol cars. They may have cleaner emissions, however, the places that make the fuel create plenty of pollution. The energy required for the air compressors for the pumps on air cars, the electricity to turn water into hydrogen in water cars. They all make one feel good because while driving around nothing bad is coming out of the car. It does come out somewhere else though.
It's not all bad though. Solar powered cars, for example, are perfectly clean. Despite their limitations.
Also, there are solutions available, they just aren't used. One solution, for example, is to use renewable energy to create the fuels for the cars. For instance when compressing air to put into the tanks on air-powered cars, re-filling stations could compress air with power from solar panels and windmills[2] instead of from a coal burning or nuclear power plant. Likewise, electric cars could be powered up from solar and wind power instead of the power grid. If this would be done, they would be amazing for the environment. This usually isn't done, however.
So these are good for making people feel like they are doing good, however, they aren't all good for the environment. Make sure that you think about the full situation on these.
Clean Residential Power:
Solar panels on your roof, windmills, even hydro-power; There are many options for creating energy at your own home, and they are good options, though somewhat expensive. Solar panels [3] are a good solution for those of us who live in areas with a moderate amount of sunlight. This isn't everywhere though. I know from living in Kentucky that it would be a great area for solar energy. I also know from going to college in Rochester New York that it would be too cloudy for the benefits of a solar panel to make its cost worth it. The same is true for wind power (except that Rochester would be amazing for wind power). As long as zoning laws in your area allow them and you have the proper natural sources required for your device, residential power options are very good.
An added benefit is that the government gives tax benefits for using renewable energy sources at your home. Also, another benefit is that many power companies will allow you to sell back any extra energy that you have to their grid. That's right, if you live in an area that produces enough energy through your device, you can actually make a small profit!
Renewable Energy Power Plants:
Although renewable energy is great for individual usage, it is not great in large scale. The demand on the power plant is too great. Renewable energy is something that, for the time being, needs to be done on an individual level, or at least on a smaller scale. For example neighborhoods in suburban and rural areas could set aside lots to put wind turbine generators on instead of a home (obviously for new neighborhoods where there are empty lots, im not suggesting forcing a family to move out). That neighborhood could have a few lots, like one for every 6-7 homes that would have a wind turbine or two on it providing power for the homes. This would allow a neighborhood to be free from reliance on the power company and save everyone in it money. Although feuds might come from trying to divide up any money that can come from selling back extra energy :)
So large scale renewable energy is bad, small and mid-size renewable energy is good.
Sources:
1 - EnergyStar.gov - CFL Light bulbs
2 - Engadget.com - Residential Windmill
3 - Akeena.net - Residential Solar Power
You should also see:
Are windmills viable home energy source?
- Erardi, 2008
2008-07-05
Good observations, and I pretty much agree with you. The issues I have with solar & wind-type sources are the cost savings are never really realized when you consider the life of solar panels (in many geographic areas). Plus even though the government is dishing out subsidies for using this technology, someone is paying for it...namely taxpayers. I don't know if I can get behind any program subsidized or mandated by the government. But that's just me. But I do think that the discussion is overdue and valuable.