The world is getting old. There are a lot of people who want to live longer, so they invent stuff that makes them live longer. One of the results is energy efficiency. If you have heard about it before but don't know what it is or why it's important, read on.
What Is Energy Efficiency?
Energy comes from many different sources. We use it everyday to power our computers, air conditioners, and even cars. Not all of the energy we make is used though; some is wasted instead of being given off as heat or light (the most common wastes). Energy efficiency refers to how much of the energy we make can be used for something useful before there is waste. The more energy that can be saved, the better off we are.
One big example of how energy efficiency is used is in cars. We all know that gas is the real fuel, not the car. Cars use energy from gasoline to move; we can make cars more efficient by making them more aerodynamic and larger tires (so they run on less gas).
As time goes on, people are finding different ways to make energy. We rely on oil for a lot of our fuel and electricity to power homes, although there are more energy-efficient homes these days. By being more energy-efficient, we are doing something that will have an effect on future generations to come.
Why Is Energy Efficiency Important?
It cuts carbon pollution
Energy makes many of our modern conveniences possible, from the electricity that powers our computers and smartphones to the gas in our cars. In fact, energy use today accounts for about one-third of all carbon pollution in the United States.
If Americans had the same energy efficiency as Germany , we would cut annual carbon pollution by about one-third. And if we had the same energy efficiency as Denmark, that cut would be more than half.
That's why, in addition to making your home more comfortable and reducing drafts around doors and windows, saving energy can also go a long way toward cleaning up our air.
Energy efficiency saves you money
Energy efficient homes may cost slightly more than standard homes, but their savings on your monthly utility bills will often repay that initial investment in a couple years or less. After that, you will have the peace of mind that you are doing your part for the environment, too.
The first step to take if you want to make your home more energy efficient is finding out how much energy it currently consumes. You can do this by having a professional come in and take an inventory. Once you see where all of your money is going, you can make changes to cut those costs.
For example, if the biggest part of your energy bills comes from heating and cooling your home, one big change you could make would be adding insulation to help keep warm air in during the winter and cool air in during the summer. If a large portion of those bills is coming from appliances, it might be time to replace an older appliance with a newer, more energy efficient model.
If you are looking for other ways to save money on your utility bills, you should consider becoming active in any reward programs your local power company may have. These types of programs often give rebates or discounts to customers who take certain actions.
Energy efficiency improves lives
According to the Department of Energy, improving energy efficiency means that we use less energy and consume fewer resources. That saves money and it helps communities create a more sustainable environment.
Besides creating sustainable communities, reducing gas emissions contributes to climate change and makes air and water cleaner, energy efficiency helps improve your standard of living. This is why knowing why energy efficiency is important can help us continue to improve on it.
Energy efficiency creates jobs for society.
One way that jobs are created by energy efficiency is through new equipment and technologies associated with greater energy efficiency. This allows the industry to produce more goods while using less energy, which reduces costs and creates jobs. Energy efficiency has been found to increase economic growth and create jobs in addition to saving energy.
Energy efficiency creates long-term jobs for the society by strengthening industries such as construction, manufacturing, and engineering. It also provides opportunities for employment in the public and private sectors to perform research, develop policies, create or enforce regulations, and train workers.
This makes sense on a personal level because it saves people money and also reduces pollution, but more importantly from a business perspective is that energy efficient products and services create jobs.
For example, energy efficient appliances, machines, tools and lighting can reduce heat loss in homes or buildings by up to 40%. This reduces heating costs for consumers which allows them to keep more money in their pockets.