Chris_Lippard 18/6/09 08:44 Page 11
How do we satisfy our need for energy and sustain the environment?
months (as a percentage of the house’s initial consumption) was given made impossible. Many computer users are unlikely to know how to
a grant to buy recreational resources. Competitions like this could be alter the default power settings because the settings are hidden away
established in other schools and educational establishments. Schools in the operating system. Also, monitors often remain in standby mode
and, more generally, community groups such as retirement clubs could permanently because people forget to turn them off. It would not be
also be informed through seminars of the most important steps to difficult for the government to implement changes so that a computer
reduce energy spending. would automatically hibernate after 10 minutes of inactivity and a
monitor would switch itself off automatically with the computer, unless
Businesses would require the strongest legislation to force wasteful the user specified for these actions not to happen.
energy habits to change. Here, the incentive is weaker for office workers
as they would not be rewarded for cutting consumption, so the While electricity is a major user of energy, petrol plays an important role
government must work harder. A simple example of energy wastage is as well. Recent research from the US Department of Transport has
when diurnal businesses leave lights and computers on overnight. It may shown that drivers can reduce petrol consumption significantly by
be important to leave a few on for security reasons and to enable travelling at as near to constant 45mph as possible. The advantages of
cleaners to do their duties, but why do the majority need to be on for a constant speed and other styles of driving could be demonstrated by
24 hours? A solution would be to compel offices to use timer switches including a fuel-efficiency calculator (in miles per gallon) on the
that are in effect for the majority of the night. Perhaps such a heavy- dashboard of cars. The driver could record and store average values for
handed approach would not be required if company directors were routine journeys and compare which driving techniques are best. Once
alerted to the extra cash available from being more careful. more, the ability to save money provides the individual with the
incentive to cut energy consumption.
Empowering individuals and organisations to reduce energy
consumption can only succeed by a fixed amount unless legislation is My essay has been devoted to explaining the importance of reducing
incorporated to help them. For householders, legislation by the EU to our demand for energy as opposed to increasing its production to
label the energy credentials of appliances such as ovens, dishwashers ‘satisfy our need for energy and sustain the environment’. I think the
and washing machines does not go far enough in demonstrating the current approach by governments to invest in new sources of energy
cost advantage to the consumer. Instead of letters, a relative price is not entirely wrong, as even if we significantly reduce our energy
saving should be shown. The improved energy labels could be added consumption it is certain that the existing energy sources will run out
to smaller frequently used devices such as kettles and computers. For and need replacing. However, accepting the idea that energy use has
householders and businesses, the government could force changes in to increase should be challenged. I believe we could better manage
the hardware configuration of electrical appliances so that unnecessary our current energy supply through the methods I have outlined, with
energy consumption by, for example, leaving a computer on would be reducing cost being the main incentive to change people’s habits. ■
2009 SCHOOLS ENERGY AWARDS
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