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Renewables, Conservation, Efficiency
Renewables, Efficiency, and Conservation:
What does it all mean?
It seems that many people are confused about what it all means: renewables, efficiency, and conservation.
Renewable Energy
Definition from Wikipedia, "renewable energy"
"Renewables" are those energy sources that will generate power and are viewed to have less impact to the environment than methods used traditionally. Solar, Wind, Wave, and Bio-fuels are examples of Renewables. A self-sustaining Electrical "Grid" is designed for the customer to generate electrical power.
"Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished)."
Are Renewables “Cost-effective?”
Even with subsidies, "renewable" energy today barely makes a dent on our energy needs. Graph from the EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration) clearly shows this. "Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector"
The cost of "Renewable" energy can be staggering.
NJ has installed Solar Panels on Utility Power Poles at a cost of $770 Million.
"Renewables" are those energy sources that will generate power and are viewed to have less impact to the environment than methods used traditionally. Solar, Wind, Wave, and Bio-fuels are examples of Renewables. A self-sustaining Electrical "Grid" is designed for the customer to generate electrical power. "Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished)."
Are Renewables “Cost-effective?”
The cost of "Renewable" energy can be staggering.
NJ has installed Solar Panels on Utility Power Poles at a cost of $770 Million.
Conservation
Conservation occurs with a reduction in consumption. One example of conservation is to turn off lights to save energy. If you are reading, studying, or doing close tedious work, turning off lights may not be practical. Other examples of conservation include turning off appliances and gadgets you are not using, adjusting your thermostat, or unplugging devices after they are charged. Changing home thermostat settings to less comfortable temperatures, taking shorter showers, and reducing the amount of lighting are methods that involve a change in Lifestyle. More Programs available from the Power Company, including Smart Meters.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency is not the same as energy conservation. Efficiency uses less energy to operate appliances, without change in Lifestyle, and reduces your electric bill. An example of efficiency is replacing a light bulb with a more efficient one. You save energy, and the room is properly illuminated.
Homes, businesses, and industry can improve electrical efficiency. This graph shows electrical losses in residential, industrial, commercial sectors. "Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector", EIA.
Improving efficiency of motors is a cost-effective way to reduce electrical losses, and to save energy costs.
Kvar Energy Controllers by Kvar National improve the efficiency of motors independently, or in conjunction with Renewable energy sources. Kvar National does this by improving the Power Factor.
Sources:
“Intelligent Energy”, Published by Schneider Electric. June 2011, pages 12 & 13. “Energy efficiency: the key to a profitable future”
EIA: Independent Statistics & Analysis, US Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.gov/
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