Energy Efficiency – A Powerful Tool For Creating a Resilient Power Grid

Energy Efficiency is a powerful tool for creating a more resilient power grid. It helps to limit the effects of volatile energy markets, reduces environmental impacts and provides cost savings.

Using ENERGY STAR® efficient light bulbs and energy-efficient windows are simple ways to save in the home. Similarly, reducing waste in heating and cooling systems can significantly reduce energy costs.

Buildings

Commercial buildings are one of the biggest energy consuming sectors. They produce greenhouse gases and use massive amounts of electricity to operate their systems. That is why they need to focus more on energy efficiency. It can save them a lot of money and help the environment.

The best way to make a building more energy efficient is to invest in low-energy appliances and to ensure that its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and lights are functioning properly. These two systems consume the most power in any building, which is why it’s important to update them. In addition, commercial construction professionals should utilize materials that have minimal impact on the environment during the development phase of a building.

It is also important to use green landscaping techniques, such as shady landscaping and solar shading that reduces a building’s cooling demands in the summer and allows sunlight to enter during the winter, saving on heating bills. Additionally, a building can benefit from using energy efficient appliances such as LED light bulbs that can save up to 50 percent more energy than incandescent bulbs and last longer.

Energy-efficient commercial buildings also minimize indoor air pollution, which is a major cause of diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. This decrease in indoor pollution can significantly lower healthcare costs and improve the overall health of people living in a building.

Transportation

The transportation sector uses about 28% of energy in the United States. It moves people and goods from one place to another using various modes of transport such as cars, buses, trains, trucks, airplanes, ships and barges, and pipelines.

Currently, road transport consumes 90 percent of our total transport Energy Efficiency energy. Of that, three-quarters goes to passenger cars. Most of these cars are inefficient because they require a lot of energy to move a person and a small amount of cargo. The efficiency of cars can be improved by making them lighter and reducing their fuel consumption.

Other forms of transport are also improving their energy efficiency. Trucks and LDVs are a good example: they have achieved energy savings well above their share of consumption (about half) since 2000. However, the pace of improvements has slowed down. It is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the use of these vehicles as many workers have opted to telecommute and travel by bus, train or taxi.

Increasing the energy efficiency of vehicles, shipping and air travel will reduce our reliance on oil. This can be done Energy Efficiency by developing hybrid vehicles, expanding public transit systems, promoting carpooling, building bike lanes and high density walkable communities, reducing flying, or telecommuting. Combined with the production of alternative fuels and reduced demand for oil, these measures will help to slow climate change.

Industrial

Industrial facilities use large amounts of energy to power a diverse range of manufacturing and resource extraction processes. This energy is often delivered in the form of natural gas and petroleum fuels as well as electricity. The industrial sector also has a tremendous opportunity to reduce its energy consumption through energy efficiency.

One of the most important aspects of energy efficiency in industry is creating an energy management team to handle the process of calculating, overseeing and managing energy usage. This team is critical in ensuring the efficiency of every aspect of an industrial space, as well as identifying potential ways to save energy.

For many businesses, this requires a complete overhaul of existing operations, and it’s not always feasible or cost-effective. However, there are many small steps that can be taken to make a difference as well. From turning off lights and equipment when they aren’t in use to reducing the amount of energy consumed by cooling systems, there are numerous ways for any business to improve their energy efficiency.

The best way to increase energy efficiency in industry is through a series of targeted investments and initiatives. Ultimately, this will lead to less overall energy use and reduced carbon emissions as well as saving businesses money. In addition, implementing new technology and systems is another great way to decrease energy usage in industrial settings. For example, moving data from on-site servers to the cloud can cut energy costs by up to 90 percent.

Residential

Energy efficiency in residential settings reduces the amount of energy a home uses and the resulting utility costs. It also contributes to better indoor environmental conditions, including healthier air and a more comfortable temperature. Energy efficient homes also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy efficient appliances and lighting can help a home use less energy, while saving money. NYSERDA offers a free home energy assessment to find out how much your house is using and offer suggestions for improvements. Additionally, replacing incandescent lights with LED bulbs and installing low-flow taps and shower heads can reduce energy usage in a home.

In addition, some communities and utilities are running energy efficiency programs that install whole-house retrofits in low-income housing, largely through neighborhood blitzes or a “direct install” approach. These programs typically include education and other support services for participants to continue to save energy at home. ACEEE’s research indicates that these programs have significant financial, health and other benefits for residents.

Families living in poverty often have a higher energy burden than the average household, meaning they spend a greater proportion of their income on energy. Having access to cost-effective energy efficiency improvements can help lessen this burden and allow households to spend more on other needs, such as food and clothing. The FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage program, for example, enables families to finance energy efficient home improvements as part of their mortgage.