When posed with the question, “What is the key to energy sustainability?” most often one would respond with the answer, renewable energy sources. Although alternative energy is projected to play a large role in reducing our energy imports, the more crucial immediate action to help achieve energy sustainability is to curb our demand. We as Americans overlook many inefficiencies in our daily lives, and one of the areas that has much room for improvement is the residential sector. Using energy efficient building materials and appliances, like products approved by Energy Star, can save consumers money, reduce energy demand, and ultimately improve environmental conditions by reducing GHG emissions. The most important factors towards creating a sustainable energy future are conservation and the implementation of efficient systems and components, in order to decrease our overall consumption.
Residential inefficiencies have many causes, and some are much larger than others. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 46% of the average American’s utility bill comes from heating and cooling alone. In order to address this problem, residential buildings can be outfitted with new windows, doors, insulation, and other building materials to improve the loss of warm or cool air. The government addressed this opportunity when it included tax credits for this type of retrofit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Encouraging improvements in residential building materials is a great way for the government to boost the economy by investing in our future needs and creating jobs in the process.
However, the tax credit incentives created by the 2009 legislation are set to expire at the end of 2010 and there is no policy currently in place to extend the benefits. In a time when new technologies are becoming more available and affordable, it is important to keep these programs active. Products like high efficiency R-5 windows became widely available in the spring of 2010, and the recent implementation of a Building Technologies Program, by the U.S. Department of Energy, has made this highly advanced product more affordable to retailers than ever before. This development has many policymakers, such as Senators Olympia Snowe and Jeff Bingaman, thinking about potential legislation that would extend the tax credits through 2012 with a focus on the most efficient technologies on the market.
An extension to the already successful energy tax credit programs would benefit consumers, the economy, and the environment. Increasingly affordable Energy Star rated products will benefit even low income residents by paying for themselves in energy savings over reasonably short periods. Investing in energy efficiency will create jobs and reduce GHG emissions all at once, thus benefitting both sides of the ongoing ‘economic vs. environmental’ debate. The legislation is still a work in progress, but the potential benefits from declining costs are on the rise and such a program can only better our country.
I most definitely agree. Using energy efficient products is a great way to reduce the bad impacts that normal products produce. In today's market there are a lot of different products to choose from that are energy efficient, but in most cases these products aren't the most affordable option at the time. A lot of people are very hesitant when purchasing energy efficient appliances because they don't see how much money it could say them in the future, they only see how much more it costs them in the present. If people would pay for energy efficient products now, they would not only save money in the future but help reduce the negative footprints they are leaving on the planet.
ReplyDeleteToday most home improvement websites have portions set aside to focus on eco-friendly options. Home Depot's, http://www6.homedepot.com/ecooptions/index.html?cm_mmc=Thd_marketing-_-Eco_Options_Site_07-_-Vanity-_-Home, provide information comparing and contrasting normal appliances/products to the energy efficient option. They also provide statistics on how many products have been sold and how much money and electricity they have saved.
Even though using energy efficient products is a great way to reduce negative impacts on our planet, in some cases they cause conflicting environmental problems. For example, florescent light bulbs use around 75% less energy that a normal light bulb would, but create a toxic waste when it is time to dispose of them. I believe energy efficient products should definitely be used but we should also consider energy conservation. As you mentioned above, 46% of the average American's utility bill comes from heating and cooling alone. By simply not running the air conditioner during the summer and opening windows instead a significant amount of energy could be saved. Also, if people used a clothes line instead of a dryer when the weather allowed they would also save energy.
Energy efficient products are helpful in reducing energy use, and these products are definitly helpful, for now, while we look for more sustainable products that use clean energy. The down fall of many energy efficient products today are that they still use dirty forms of energy such as coal and oil.
ReplyDeleteThere is a phenomenon known as Jevon's paradox, which states technologies that increase efficiency of a resource tend to increase the rate of consumption of that resource. This essentially means that because a product is more efficient, the consumer will use this product more. While most products are still using dirty, unsustainable energy, it is important to understand Jevon's paradox and not use something more just because it is efficient.
I agree with this post, but believe it doesn't go far enough- only because the assignment won't allow Chris to.
ReplyDeleteThe fight for energy independence not ONLY includes developing renewable energy but includes making sure the energy we create is actually used to its maximum potential. This should incorporate making sure energy is used efficiently in household appliances and changing out lights for florescents.
I also believe energy efficiency includes improving the grid over anything else. While appliance efficiency is an important aspect to the average american's part, around half of the energy created doesnt even reach the households. This is due to a energy grid that wasnt intended to be stretched so far. Imagine having double the energy without purchasing any from abroad. Of course it is an enormous investment, but it is a much needed one. Certainly the United States has spent more than this on worse investments.
I think the third prong of energy independence absolutely includes renewable energy though. While efficiency is vital, it is a band-aid for a bullet wound. While we will be able to use more energy, that often is a cue for American's to use more. In the end, we will be sending money oversees to purchase a diminishing resource. We need to invest the money now and use the energy we have to develop renewable energy sources so that we can have a clean, endless source of energy over the next century.
I love this post, energy efficient products are useful in reducing energy use and there are many sustainble products as well. However, people cant see the long term benefit to the world but caring their financial ability at the time when they make choice of buying the product. For those people who read this article after will know they would not only save money in the future but reduce the negative impact they are leaving to our next generations. I agree with Tallerence "This fight of energy independence include making sure energy is used efficiently in household appliances and changing out lights for florescents. this point is very important as the energy we create are not used in its maximum potential.
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