Energy

The Importance of Conservation & Clean Energy - Upload Knowledge

Conserving energy is one of the easiest things anyone can do to help the environment. And so much energy can potentially be saved in the United States that it can be viewed as equal to creating a new energy source, like wind and nuclear are energy sources. Think about it! If we decrease our use of energy, say by 15%, which is more than possible for most buildings, then if enough people did that, it can be thought of as reducing the use of a number of power plants. And with new power plants being built all the time to keep up with our steep demand in the United States, it could mean a certain number of new power plants are not needed and therefore are never built. If energy conservation has the power to reduce the number of power plants polluting the environment, then energy conservation is not only an energy source by itself, but a very clean energy source because producing no energy produces no pollution!

Conserving energy doesn’t just mean using less energy, but also cutting out energy waste. For example, many appliances in a school building use more energy than newer products that meet EnergyStar qualifications. "Phantom Energy" is another source that can be reduced easily. Motion-sensor lights are yet another way energy can be conserved.

Besides the environmental benefits of conserving energy in your school, some basic conservation tips and infrastructure upgrades that we discuss in Take Some Action can save you a significant percentage of your energy bill, as well as provide the opportunity for the whole school to learn how easy and effective energy conservation is.

Clean, renewable energy sources are another topic we’ll cover in detail. There are pros and cons of all energy sources, and it’s important that you develop a healthy skepticism for any energy source that claims it will solve all the world’s energy problems. The reality is that the best solution for a clean energy future seems to be a mix of clean energy sources because even the cleanest technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower have potential drawbacks in their dependability and impact on the environment.

However, despite some potential drawbacks, solar, wind, and geothermal systems may be the best green investment to make on your school property or to purchase as an energy source through your utility’s power grid. As long as you make informed decisions using the resources we discuss in this guide, solar, wind, or geothermal systems at your school can prove to be a far better investment than traditional energy sources in the long-run. Some of the notable benefits include no on-site greenhouse gas emissions, significant long-term savings on your energy bill, personal stability through power outages that occur in the local grid, a fixed price that is not driven by the global oil market, the ability to share energy back with the grid and earn rebates if you produce extra, the pride that you are helping to shape a renewable economy, and finally, the opportunity to serve science lessons for your students and provide them a life-lasting example of the effectiveness of alternative energy sources.

According to Power Scorecard, electric power generation creates more pollution than any other industry in the United States. You really can be part of the solution in your school whether you simply find ways to conserve energy or “go all-out” and invest in an on-site renewable energy source. Any step, big or small, makes a difference. See Explain Format to find a level of involvement that suits your school.