What if I told you that there was a fifth energy source that was cheap, clean, and renewable? It’s also readily available to the public and has the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels drastically. Believe it or not, this fifth fuel is really energy efficiency. Energy efficiency sounds boring to many people, but when you think of it as a completely new source of energy, there’s a different package entirely.
For the most people seem to brush off energy efficiency because it’s not as “cool” as wind turbines or solar panels, which are presented as a the saving grace for our planet’s health. But as it was pointed out in our article about solar panels, for those options to truly be efficient, you have to make your home efficient first.
The best part of energy efficiency is that it’s relatively simple and easier to afford than most other popularized renewable energies. Energy efficiency can be achieved by replacing light bulbs, using more efficient machinery (like refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, etc.), and using machinery more productively. All of the energy that is not produced from doing a few of the things listed above produces negawatts. In commercial buildings, energy that’s not used can be sold back through a demand response program, to help generate extra revenue.
If you’re really interested in helping saving the environment, along with money, then energy efficiency should be your first choice of energy. It will help drastically cut your energy demands, making any renewable energy sources that more efficient for you. To see how energy efficiency really affects you, check out the graph below!
The best part of energy efficiency is that it’s relatively simple and easier to afford than most other popularized renewable energies. Energy efficiency can be achieved by replacing light bulbs, using more efficient machinery (like refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, etc.), and using machinery more productively. All of the energy that is not produced from doing a few of the things listed above produces negawatts. In commercial buildings, energy that’s not used can be sold back through a demand response program, to help generate extra revenue.
If you’re really interested in helping saving the environment, along with money, then energy efficiency should be your first choice of energy. It will help drastically cut your energy demands, making any renewable energy sources that more efficient for you. To see how energy efficiency really affects you, check out the graph below!
