Energy conservation is the efficient use of energy, without necessarily curtailing the services that energy provides. Conservation occurs when societies develop efficient technologies that reduce energy needs. Environmental concerns, such as acid rain and the potential for global warming, have increased public awareness about the importance of energy conservation. Energy efficiency can be measured…
People living in cities with high levels of pollution have higher risks of mortality from certain diseases than those living in less polluted cities. Energy-related emissions generate a vast majority of these polluting chemicals. (Table 4.3 in Chapter 4 shows some air pollutants and their sources.) According to the American Lung Association, air pollution has been related to such diseases as asthm…
The U.S. transportation system plays a central role in the economy. Highway transportation is dependent on internal combustion engine vehicles fueled almost exclusively by petroleum. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) noted in its Annual Energy Review 2003 (2004) that the transportation sector accounted for 27% of all energy consumed in the United St…
Total building energy use in the United States has increased because there are increasing numbers of people, households, and offices. However, energy use per unit area (commercial) or per person (residential) has roughly stabilized over the past ten to twelve years because of a variety of efficiency improvements. The sources of energy in buildings have changed dramatically. Use of fuel oil has dro…
Compared to other industrialized countries, the United States is lagging behind in energy efficiency and conservation efforts. According to the Energy Information Administration's International Energy Annual 2002 (2004) figures for energy consumption per dollar of GDP in 2002, the United States consumed 10,575 Btu per dollar of GDP compared to 5,998 for France, 5,269 for Germany, and 3,876 …
The EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2004 projected U.S. total energy consumption to increase from 97.7 quadrillion Btu to 136.5 quadrillion Btu between 2002 and 2025, an average annual increase of 1.5%, even with FIGURE 9.8 efficiency standards for new energy-using equipment in buildings and for motors taken into consideration. Residential and industrial energy demands are expected to be b…
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