Energy conservation – The Needs, Benefits, and methods to conserve energy

Energy conservation is the practice to conserve natural resources from depletion. it is because energy drives everything in today’s world. The entire world consumes more energy than before, and so the demand for energy is increasing exponentially.

While we have been able to increase energy production to meet requirements, there are physical, geographical, and economic constraints on how much can be produced.

On the other side, due to the use of fossil fuels for the generation of electricity, greenhouse gasses are getting accumulated in the atmosphere, resulting in climatic consequences.

It is very necessary to deal with the ever-increasing demand for energy and the difficulties that arise due to its usage. There comes the term energy conservation.

It is the term used nowadays by most academic people, researchers, scientists, governments, and non-profit organizations, around the world. Many discussions around energy conservation are going through social media, news, etc.

In the following sections, you will know about energy conservation, the need to save energy, and the most important methods used to conserve energy.

What is energy conservation?

Energy conservation is the effort taken to reduce the consumption of energy by using less energy or producing it. It is achieved by reducing the consumption of energy in physical terms.

Energy conservation can also be achieved by using smart appliances, which use less energy. This can be done by producing more energy-efficient products and supplying them to energy consumers.

Saving energy will help to create a sustainable environment. Efficient usage of energy prevents unnecessary waste, thereby ensuring its continuous availability.

If the current trend of increasing energy continues, we should be ready to face the negative consequences of climate change such as an increase in temperatures, more acid rain, and more frequent extreme weather changes.

Hence, energy conservation is not just a topic to discuss and move on. It is an effort or a practice that every individual should follow energy conservation steps to save energy which ensures a sustainable world.

How energy conservation is related to energy efficiency?

Both the terms energy conservation and energy efficiency looks similar, but both have distinct definitions with the same goal of energy saving.

Energy conservation is the action or practice of using less energy. For example, turning off the lights when not in use, and regular cleaning of air filters in air conditioners are some of the ways of saving energy.

On the other hand, energy efficiency is a method of using technology that uses less energy to perform the same function.

For example, replacing fluorescent light or incandescent light with energy-efficient bulbs, and using energy-efficient appliances in our homes are examples of energy efficiency. The implementation of energy-efficient technologies will reduce energy consumption.

What is the need to conserve energy?

In the present day, most of us are very lucky to have electricity in our homes. There are only a few people who understand the need to conserve energy and they act on it. But some people around the world do not realize the issues that we face in our environment.

Fossil fuels are used by most countries for generating electric energy and thermal energy. It is a non-renewable energy resource that most types of energy equipment rely on it.

If fossil fuels run out, it is not possible to recreate them. For example, we can’t pump oil from the earth, if it gets empty.

On the other side, burning fossil fuels will release Greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which pollute the environment. In order to reduce pollution and preserve our natural resources, it is essential to take steps toward energy conservation.

Benefits of energy conservation

Saving energy can help you save money on your energy bills. Energy conservation can help the environment by lowering carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. Energy conservation will bring economic and environmental benefits.

Environmentally, energy saving will reduce poisonous gas emissions. Economically, saving energy will save you money on energy costs. Additionally, it also has more health benefits for all living things on the earth.

Environmental benefit

The utilization of non-renewable resources impacts our environment. Just Imagine, what happens when fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are burnt in power plants. It pollutes the air, water, and land due to greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

These activities will cause serious effects on the earth causing global warming. We can observe the effects of global warming through irregular climate change such as melting ice glaciers, rising sea levels, forest fires, etc.

Conserving energy will save all the cities in the coastal areas from disappearing under the water. The quality of air and water can be improved by reducing carbon emissions. The change in climatic conditions can be prevented by effectively following energy conservation methods.

Economic benefit

The fossil fuels, which were abundant once, are getting vanished as the year goes on. Due to this, the cost of drilling and mining fossil fuels is increasing, which reflects back to the consumer’s cost. You can notice the increase in the price of petroleum products in the market.

If the dependence on these fuels is reduced by switching over to renewable energy resources, then the consumers will definitely taste the benefit.

If we rely more on renewable energy resources, then fossil fuels will exist for a longer period, which will slow down the price of the fuels.

On the other side, conserving energy will save you money on utility bills. A small change that you take to use your electrical items in an efficient way, would save your electricity bill. Using energy-efficient products at your home and office will save your electricity bills.

Health benefit

As discussed above, the usage of non-renewable energy resources causes the accumulation of poisonous gases such as sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, etc., in the atmosphere. These gases react with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain.

Acid rain is rain with acidic components that affects the ecosystem, marine system, and human health conditions. Plants, cereals, fruits, and vegetables get affected by acid rain resulting in skin irritation, cancer, respiratory issues, and cardiovascular problems in human beings.

Fossil fuels and Energy conservation will reduce the effects of poisonous gases released into the atmosphere. Energy-efficient alternatives will assist life on earth to sustain without health issues.

Methods of energy conservation

Conserving energy is a very simple and easy task that everyone can practice to save the earth. It should be the habit of every individual to reduce energy usage. There are various methods to save electricity in your home and office.

Some methods require investment to implement and some do not need any investments. We have given the top 10 ways to conserve energy.

Use energy-efficient light bulbs

The energy consumption of traditional incandescent lights is pretty high. Also, the heat energy produced from such bulbs is severe and has a short lifetime.

Even though fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) consume less energy than incandescent bulbs, all those must be replaced with energy-efficient light bulbs.

LED bulbs are the most energy-efficient bulbs, which save energy and money. It consumes only around 20% of electricity consumed by incandescent light bulbs and gives enough brightness. Although LED bulbs are expensive, they cut off energy bills and can be used for a longer time.

Use energy-efficient appliances

Not only light bulbs, but it is also better to use energy-efficient appliances in your house. Of the total household energy use, appliances play a vital role. Because every house consists of different appliances such as air conditioners, washing machines, microwave ovens, etc.

Many use old appliances at home without proper maintenance. The energy consumed by the old appliances will be more. Replacing the old one with a new product is always challenging in terms of its price.

Though the investment is high, energy efficiency will improve and energy costs will get reduced.

When looking to purchase a new product, look for the energy STAR label on the appliances. Buy the product with more star ratings, as this will save energy.

Turn off lights and appliances when not in use

This is one of the simplest methods of energy conservation. You need not go and buy any products to reduce energy consumption. It is just as simple as turning off the lights and appliances when they are not in use.

Whenever you leave the room, turn off the lights and fan. Whenever you leave the hall, turn off the television and other appliances. If you are finished in the bathroom, turn off the appliances. These simple steps will result in money and energy savings.

Use natural light during daytime

People have the habit of closing all the windows in their homes during the daytime. They would like to sit under the lights. But they are not aware that their action will increase energy use at home or office.

It is advisable to make the most of the sunlight during the day. The drapes or curtains on the windows are to be kept open during the daytime to receive natural light. In this way, you could avoid unnecessary usage of electrical lights and reduce energy usage at your home.

Defrost your refrigerators regularly

Refrigerators are used in most houses to preserve food and beverages for a longer time. But refrigerators are often not operated efficiently.

The first and easiest thing to conserve energy in a refrigerator is that the door should be closed perfectly. If not, the cold air escapes from the appliances and hence requires more energy to cool them.

The frost accumulation on the coils inside of your refrigerator forces it to work harder. If you do not defrost your refrigerator and freezer on a regular basis, the appliance may struggle to maintain cooler temperatures.

This frost buildup can waste a lot of energy and cost you a lot of money on your utility bills. Thus regular defrosting should be done to save energy.

Clean or replace air filters in the air conditioner

Normally, an air conditioner or heater is the biggest energy user in most houses. This appliance is operated during summer and winter. Regular usage of air conditioning systems will result in the deposition of dirt in the air filters.

Improper cleaning of dirty air filters will make the appliance work even harder. If unnoticed, the energy efficiency of the conditioner will become poor. To conserve energy, regularly clean the air filter in the air conditioning system.

Repair any electrical issues

In any home or building, the occurrence of electrical issues such as flickering lights, electric surges, burn-out bulbs, etc is common. But it should be addressed immediately. If you notice any such electrical issue, it should be fixed it right away.

Such fixes will ensure that the electrical equipment is operating with energy efficiency while optimizing energy output.

Take a walk or use a bicycles

Technological advancement around the world had led to the rapid growth of the transportation sector. Almost every family owns a vehicle, either a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler.

The rapid growth had resulted in an increase in energy consumption and the release of poisonous gases into the atmosphere.

In order to conserve energy and save our earth, it is our responsibility to look at alternatives. One of the best alternatives is to travel short distances either by walking or using bicycles. This effort has a number of advantages for both the environment and our health.

Traveling short distances by walking or using bicycles will reduce the consumption of energy resources. Since no emissions are there, our environment will be protected.

You could be able to save more money. These energy conservation efforts will also be a good exercise for your body and help in strengthening your immune system.

Switch to renewable energy resources

Non-renewable energy resources are limited and are depleted within a few years. Since these resources have serious effects on the atmosphere, it is the need of the hour to switch to renewable energy resources.

Renewable energy provides significant benefits for our environment, our health, and our economy. The majority of renewable energy sources such as solar energy, and wind energy produce no carbon pollution.

You could either install standalone photovoltaic systems or biomass power generation to supply electricity for your home and start conserving energy.

Energy Audit and Energy Management

It is the method of inspection and analysis of energy flow in a building or home or industry to implement energy conservation. Using this method, it is also possible to determine energy wastage, thus you can save several amounts of energy.

The objective of the energy audit is to minimize energy costs and reduce energy waste without affecting the process quality. Its outcome is to provide recommendations for improving energy efficiency.