Sustainable Energy

Outlook for Fossil Fuels

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Two Choices:

Conserve energy - make what we have last longer

Find other sources of energy - (renewable)

Conservation

Home Energy USe

Heating and CoolingTypically, 44% of your utility bill goes for heating

and cooling.

Also, heating and cooling systems in the U S emit:

1. over a half billion tons of CO2 / year adding to global warming.

2. They also generate about 24% of the nation's sulfur dioxide and 12% of the nitrogen oxides, the chief ingredients in acid rain.

Insulation and Weatherization

The easiest and most cost- effective way to insulate your home is to add insulation in the attic.

Most U.S. homes should have between R-22 and R-49 insulation in the attic.

Conserving Heating and Cooling Energy

Solar Heating and Cooling Using passive solar design techniques to heat and cool your home can be both environmentally friendly and cost effective.

What is passive heating:Passive solar heating techniques include placing larger, insulated windows on south-facing walls and locating thermal mass, such as a concrete slab floor or a heat-absorbing wall, close to the windows.

Fireplaces If you never use your fireplace, plug and seal the chimney flue.

Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is going.

When you use the fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window slightly

Install tempered glass doors and a heat-air exchange system that blows warmed air back into the room.

Cooling Tips 1. Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house and exhausting warm air through the attic. 2. Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. 3. Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. 4. Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively. 5. Don't place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. 6. Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.

You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours.

You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.

Water Heater

There are four ways to cut your water heating bills:

1.Use less hot water

2.Turn down the thermostat on your water heater,3.Insulate your water heater,

4.Buy a new, more efficient water heater.

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A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day, uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount in half simply by using low-flow showerheads and faucets.

WindowsCold-Climate Window Tips

Double-pane windows with low-e coating on the glass reflect heat back into the room during the winter months. Install exterior or interior storm windows; Close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day.

Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to maximize solar gain.

LandscapingLandscaping is a natural and beautiful way to keep your home more comfortable and reduce your energy bills. Inaddition to adding aesthetic value and environmentalquality to your home, a well- placed tree, shrub, or vinecan deliver effective shade, act as a windbreak, andreduce overall energy bills.

Lighting

Use linear fluorescent and energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in fixtures throughout your home to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting.

Fluorescent lamps are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 6 to 10 times longer.

AppliancesWhen you do have to shop for a new appliance, lookfor the ENERGY STAR7 label.

About 80% to 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are two ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothesCuse less water and use cooler water.

Refrigerators with the freezer on top or bottom are more efficient than those with freezers on the side.

When you're shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase priceCthink of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during itslifetime.

Driving tips:Good Driving Habits:1. slow down2. drive smoothly3. get to higher gears quicker4. don=t idle too long5. don=t brake excessively6. don=t warm up the engine too long7. use air economically8. lighten the load9. remove unnecessary attatchments10. plan your route

Car pool

Use public transportation

Maintain your car

Choose an economic car

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CAFÉ Standards• Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) is

the sales weighted average fuel economy, expressed in miles per gallon (mpg)

• Applies to passenger cars or light trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 lbs. or less

• Administered by the Secretary of Transportation who has delegated authority to establish CAFE standards to the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

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Hybrid Vehicles

• Hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) which use internal combustion engines and electric batteries to power electric motors.

• These encompass such vehicles as the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda Insight and others.

• A petroleum-electric hybrid most commonly uses internal combustion engines (generally gasoline or Diesel engines, powered by a variety of fuels) and electric batteries to power electric motors

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Mass Transit

• Mass transit or public transport, public transportation, and public transit comprises all transport systems in which the passengers do not travel in their own vehicles. While it is generally taken to include rail and bus services