Energy Efficiency & Conservation
- Sustainable energy supply should balance supply and demand ensuring that future generations are able to meet their energy needs
- Non-renewable sources will at some point run out so need to be used carefully
- Sustainable energy supply does not cause harm to the environment and should benefit local communities
- Methods that can be used to achieve this include:
- Reducing waste
- Using energy supplies more efficiently
- Development of renewable energy
- Conservation of energy
Individual energy use and carbon footprints
- Individual carbon footprint can be reduced in a number of ways:
- Walking or cycling to reduce the use of cars
- Reducing food miles: buying locally produced and seasonal food
- Buying an electric or hybrid car
- Switching off lights when leaving a room and not leaving appliances on standby
- In people's homes
Ways to reduce energy use
National reduction in energy demand
- The methods outlined for homes can also be used on a larger scale for businesses and industries
- Incentives can also be offered for actions which reduce energy demand including:
- Grants or tax reductions to install insulation, solar panels
- Financial incentives to swap to hybrid or electric cars
- Legislation can be introduced for building regulations to ensure new buildings are energy efficient
- Smart meters installed to make people more aware of energy use
Transport
- Many governments are encouraging people to buy electric cars
- In the UK the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans will be banned from 2030
- Investment in public transport to reduce the use of cars
- Reducing the use of diesel trains - UK has a target of net zero rail network by 2050
- New buses are hybrid or electric
- Promotion of car share with car share lanes and priority parking
- Congestion charging - London has a £15 Congestion charge and an Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) where an additional charge is made on cars who don't meet emission standards
- Building of cycle lanes to encourage safe cycling
- More efficient car and plane engines and aerodynamic car/plane design to reduce fuel use
Technology to increase the efficiency of fossil fuels
- Combined heat and power (CHP) - when power stations generate the electricity they also generate waste heat which can be used to heat homes and businesses
- Carbon capture and storage which removes the carbon produced when burning fossil fuels and stores it underground
- Hybrid and electric cars
- Improved efficiency for electrical appliances