Unit 6.13 - Energy Conservation

Question 1

Small Scale vs Large scale Energy Conservation

Answer 1

Small Scale:
- lowring thermostat to use less heat or use AC less often
- COnserving water with native plants instead of grass, low flow shower heads, efficient toilets, dishwashers, dryers
- Energy efficient appliances, better insulation to keep more heat in home

Large scale:
- improving fuel efficiency (fuel economy) standards
- Subsiding (tax creditsfor) electric vehicles, charging stations, and hybrids
- Increased public transport, green building design

Question 2

Sustainabble home design

Answer 2

• Ways to either blockout or take advantage of sun’s natural heat, or keep in heating/cooling to decrease energy required
• deciduous shade trees for landscaping (leaves block sun in summer, but allow it in during winter)
• Using passive solar design concets to trap sun’s heat and decrease energy from heating system (heat absorbing walls, triple or double paned windows)
• well-insulated walls/attic to trap heat inw inter and cool air from AC system in summer
  - this decreases electricity used by AC unit and energy used by heating system

Question 3

Water Conservation

Answer 3

• Native plants require less watering than traditional lawns (also oncrease biodiversity of pollinators and require less fertilizer)
• Low-flow showers, toilets, and dishwashers do the same job with less total water (less energy to purify and pump to homes)
• Rain barrels allow rain water to be used for watering plants or washing cars

Question 4

Energy Conservation - Transportation

Answer 4

• about 28% of total US energy use comes from transport of goods and people
• improving fuel economy of US fleet of vehicles conserves energy as less gasoline/desel is needed to travel same distance
  - CAFE (Corporate Average Fel Economy) standards are regulations set in US to require auto manufacturers to make cars that meet certain MPG standards, or pay penalties
• Hybrids (prius) have both gasoline and electric engine, enabling them to have higher MPG ratings
  - braking system charges the electric batter, which powers electric motor
• Electric vehicles (EVs or BEVs) like Tesla or LEAF use no gasoline, but still require electricity (0nly sustainable as electricity source)
• Public transit and carpooling are even better energy-saving transport options

Question 5

SustainableBuilding Design

Answer 5

• Decreasing the amount of energy required to build larger buidings and heat/cool them
• Green roof or walls can decrease runoff, and absorb sun’s heat, decreasing energy needed for cooling building and surrounding areas (lessens heat island effect)
• Sun lights on roof, or windows on sides can decrease electricity used for lighting
• Recycled materials can reduce energy required to produce new ones (glass, wood, even fly ash from coal can be used in foundation)

Question 6

Managing Peak Demand and Smart Grid Technology

Answer 6

• Peak demand is the time of day or year (often early night time hours or very hot weather events) that electricity demand is highest
  - if demand exceeds supply, rolling blackouts occur
  - to manage peak demand, some utilities use a variable price model for electricity
  - users pay a higher rate during peak demand hours or events, to discourage use
  - users pay a lower rate/kWh when using a lower amount of energy (incentives lower overall use)
• Smart grid is just the idea of managinf demand and energy sourcesi n a more varied way
  - Ex:using smart metersf or variable price models, allowing rooftop solar to direct electricity back to grid, integrating more total energy sources(expecially renewable)