Ways for individuals to save energy - Research Paper Example

Ways for Individuals to Save Energy Energy is the power needed to makes things work. Just as our bodies need energy for physical activities, the world also needs energy in the form of gas and electricity for a society to function more efficiently. Because we get our energy demand from earth’s natural resources, many scientists believe that our energies will soon be depleted because most of our energy sources are non-renewable (Bellamy, 1991). Why Save Energy Conserving our energy means we do not only save money from consumption cost, but we can reduce environmental and social costs as well.

According to the US Department of Energy (2009), typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills while transportation accounts for 67% of all U.S. oil consumption. The excessive use of energy in the US results to environmental degradation with air pollution, acid rain, and global warming as its grave effects. In our present society, the issue on where to get our energy has paved way to foreign energy dependence and international conflicts over energy supplies. As an individual, it is good to know that you can do your part in conserving energy.

You do not only save money in doing so, but you can also lessen the demand for fossil fuels and prevent global warming that destroys our environment. By exercising a few tips to save energy, you can do your part in conserving energy. There are hundreds of ways how one can conserve energy even at home. Contrary to the belief that cutting energy consumption is complex and expensive, there are easy ways to save energy in a simple and efficient manner. Appliances and Electronic Products First, start with your home appliances.

According to US Department of Energy (2009), appliances account for about 17% of your household’s energy consumption with refrigerators, washing machine and clothes dryer at the top of the consumption list. When boiling water, do not forget to cover the cooking pan because it heats the water faster which consequently results to less energy use. When cooking, make sure to consider the size of your cooking material with the amount of food you are preparing. In this way, heat can easily take over the pan and cook the food faster.

In addition, you can utilize small electric pans or oven toaster to make small meals rather than using large stove or oven. In fact, an toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven (US Department of Energy, 2009). For the same reason, you need to use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so to reduce cooking time. For electronic equipment such as lights, desktop computer and printer, never forget to turn these items off when not in use at night or over the weekends.

If you still use a desktop computer and printer, this choice will enable you to save up to $100 a year (Bruce, 2002). What you need to do is to use power management features in your computer when you are not using your computer for a time. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle The slogan ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ means that you need to think twice over all your purchased goods. Reduce means you cut down on your consumption by buying products that are necessary. When you reduce your purchase, you also reduce the waste in your surroundings and help conserve natural resources.

You must also think where your new purchases will go and what it will displace. For instance, if you are thinking of buying a new oven, consider if it is really necessary to make a purchase when the old one is still functioning. Otherwise, you can start thinking on how to donate or recycle your old appliance. When at the supermarket, bring your own bag to minimize the use of plastic to pack your goods. When buying products, you ought to purchase reusable goods over disposable ones. In this way, you can pack your sandwich in a reusable reusable container rather than wrap it in plastic that you will eventually throw away.

According to Everything Green Living, a book by McDilda (2007), you should consider using reusable kitchen utensils when eating out. For instance, you can bring your own plastic container for your favorite drink rather than use one-time use plastic cups. Another way to reduce waste is to make donations such as household items, old appliances, and clothes to charitable institution. In this way, you can recycle these materials to users that needed the product. Getting Around Whenever possible, you should opt to walk, bicycle, or use mass transit to save a good amount of energy.

According to DOE, transportation accounts for 67% of U.S. oil use—mainly in the form of gasoline. A good way to reduce the gasoline consumption is to drive a car with a good mileage. When driving a car, reduce your speed limits because high speed driving wastes a lot of gas. Also, you need to remember to clean your car regularly because an extra weight decreases gas mileage by 1% to 2% for every 100 pounds (US Department of Energy, 2009). These energy saving tips should help you reduce your energy consumption and contribute to lessen the effects of global warming and environmental degradation.

Remember that you can always do your part in saving our planet from further destruction. References Bellamy, David. 101 Ways to Save the Earth. London: Francis Lincoln Children’s Book, 1991. Bruce, Harley. Cut your Energy Bills Now. Connecticut: The Taunton Press, 2002. McDilda, Diane Gow. Everything Green Living Book: Easy ways to conserve energy, protect your family's health, and help save the environment. Massachusetts: F+W Publications Inc., 2007. US Department of Energy - National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Energy Savers Booklet: Tips on Saving Energy &Money at Home. Washington, DC: US Department of Energy, 2009.