Because this is our final civic issues blog, I wanted to discuss the implementation of renewables in a larger sense, and some misconceptions that people have with them. Firstly, and most worryingly, the general population, even many who support renewable energies, believe that alternative energy has all the potential to reconstruct the current energy grid at the modern-day level of consumption and growth. While this would be utopian, most research concludes that this is simply not feasible. We are far too wasteful of a society to maintain our level of energy consumption from renewables, and in the upcoming future, from conventional resources.
This is very displeasing to people; our everyday luxuries have become so commonplace that they begin to seem like necessities, which is just simply not the case. The reality of the situation really isn’t that dire if we consider very simple ways that we can reduce consumption; by utilizing natural sunlight during the day rather than an excessive amount of lighting, and by being diligent about turning lights off when you no longer need them. Or what about unplugging computer and phone chargers when said electronics are done being charged? Phantom charging, or the continued consumption of energy in the form of vacant chargers, on average, accounts for 648 kwH of unused energy per month, a sizeable portion of energy that is being wasted entirely. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that on average, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off (“Take Control”). Maybe cutting your shower time by one minute? The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that showers account for the largest portion of domestic water use, consuming over 1.2 trillion gallons of water a pear, or about 17 percent of residential water use. (Bugnion).
There are so many small changes in consumption that can be made domestically that could drastically alter our energy consumption. And these changes are totally self-initiated. While many civilians disapprove of industry’s negligent environmental practices, it is much more difficult to get this sector to reform their practices; and unfortunately, the catalyst to this change is often a catastrophe. Therefore, it is more difficult for the individual consumer to effect change in that respect. But we can, and all have the responsibility, to be conscious of our own actions and their effects.
We can also find higher efficiency alternatives to traditional domestic technologies. For example, low-flow showerheads are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and save, on average, 24 gallons of water per shower, or about 8,760 gallons of water per year for each person. High efficiency refrigerators and washing machines are a greater investment than a showerhead replacement, but can reduce consumption drastically. Efficient washing machines reduce water consumption by 50 percent and energy consumption by 37 percent. EnergyStar efficient refrigerators reduce energy consumption between 20 and 40 percent (“Tips: Kitchen”). If the high initial cost of an EnergyStar-rated appliance is too much, other simple actions such as using high efficiency detergent, which can clean clothes in cold-water rinses, and air-drying clothing can reduce consumption.
However, we should be wary of relying solely on implementing higher efficiency technologies, because of a phenomenon known as Jeven’s paradox. The economic principle states that the influx of higher efficiency technology paradoxically increases consumption of a certain good (“Jevon’s Paradox”). From an economic perspective, it makes a lot of sense. Improved efficiency often lowers the unit cost of consuming a good. Therefore, in basic laws of supply and demand, when the cost of the good lowers, the demand increases and vice versa. As a result, the increased demand creates increased consumption, rather than the intended outcome of reduction. Put the theory into a driving situation; I currently drive my mom’s old car, a very stereotypical soccer- mom car, (that was great for toting around my sister and me and hoards of friends around when we were younger), and which is an absolute gas-guzzler. Because it brings me to near tears every time I have to fill up the 21-gallon tank and kiss on average $60 away, I am pretty conscious of how far I drive and only like to drive if needed. But, if I suddenly drove a more efficient car, driving unnecessarily would not phase me nearly as much, and this could create the potential for my consumption to actually increase, or not decrease very drastically. Therefore, we should focus on reducing our base consumption first and foremost.
This is the initial premise of implementing renewable energy on a larger scale; with more conscious consumption, alternative energy integration can fulfill the world’s energy needs. The second misconception about alternative energy is that there should be an end-all-be-all resource that will solve the energy crisis. This is not the case as none of the renewable energies are currently efficient enough to solely power the grid, and they are difficult to store and transport. A change in the infrastructure from mass, central power plants into smaller, localized power plants will need to occur for true development. And the use of hybrid technologies that incorporate multiple alternative resources, such as solar power during the day and wind power at night, will realistically serve our energy needs. While this change in infrastructure will be expensive, it will be vastly less expensive and more sustainable than the mass crisis resolution that will need to be enacted if we continue to consume nonrenewable resources. The energy future does look bleak at this time, but there is absolutely no reason that it needs to continue in this fashion; it all starts with a change in perspective.
To see what your family is consuming check out this carbon footprint calculator and power profiler!
carbon footprint calculator: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/ind-calculator.html
power profiler: http://oaspub.epa.gov/powpro/ept_pack.charts
Works Cited:
Bugnion, Veronique. “Water Waste: Your Shower’s Dirty Little Secret.” RSS. Social Media Today, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
“Jevons Paradox.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
“Take Control & Save.” Take Control & Save. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
“Tips: Kitchen Appliances.” Energy.gov. U.S. Department of Energy, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.