The main objective in energy efficiency is to minimize the amount of energy needed to produce products and services. Let’s say, insulating your house enables the building to utilize less cooling and heating systems to acquire the desired comfortable temperature.
Installing natural skylights or fluorescent lights lessens the amount of energy necessary to obtain the same level of lighting compared to using conventional incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights are known to use about two-thirds less energy and could last six to ten times longer than the incandescent lights. Advancements in energy efficiency are mostly attained by using more efficient technology and processes.
There are many different inspirations behind the principle of energy efficiency. Reducing energy utilizes reduced energy costs and may lead to a better cost savings to consumers if the energy saved overshadows any extra costs associated with the usage of energy efficient technologies.
Reducing energy consumption is also directly linked to lower carbon emissions. According to International Energy Agency, when energy efficiency is introduced in residential and commercial buildings, transportation and industrial procedures will decrease the world’s energy requirements by 2050 by up to one-third and help regulate global emissions of greenhouse gases.
Both are said to be the chief pillars in harnessing energy sustainability. In most countries, energy efficiency is viewed as having national security advantages since it can lower the amount of energy imported from foreign countries and could diminish the rate of local energy resources to be depleted.
Making homes, businesses and vehicles more energy efficient is now considered as one of the best alternatives to address global environmental issues such as global warming, pollution, fossil fuel deficiency and energy security. These things have already been discussed for many years since the 1973 oil crisis.
Household Appliances
Current energy-efficient appliances like ovens, stoves, refrigerators, washing machine, dryers and dishwashers use less energy than older versions of appliances. When you install clothesline to dry your clothes, it will considerably lessen the household’s energy consumption since dryers are used less. Modern energy efficient refrigerators, in fact, can use 40% less energy than old models manufactured in 2000. So if households decide to replace their twelve-year old appliances into brand new models, approximately 20 billion kWh of electric energy can be reduced yearly and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions nearly 18 billion kg.
According to a comprehensive study done by McKinsey & Company in 2009, replacing old appliances is one of the cost-effective and environment-friendly measures that can significantly lessen emissions of greenhouse gases. Current power management systems can also contribute in reducing energy consumption of idle appliances by making sure to turn the off or placing them into low-energy mode after a certain period.
The result of energy efficiency on peak periods is based on the time the appliance was used. For example, air conditioners are most often used in the afternoon when the temperature is hot. So, energy efficient air conditioners will have a major impact especially on peak demands rather than on off-peak demands.
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