Energy Conservation

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Energy Conservation

• Creating a Healthy Environment For Tomorrow, and
  Saving Money for Education Today

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Do We Have a Choice ?
Courtesy of Tom Toles and UB Guide to Campus
Ecology
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Energy Demand in Schools

• US school districts spend 6 billion each year on
  energy, second only to salaries1
• 1.5 billion of this, on average, is wasted due
  to energy inefficiency2
• A study of 851 schools found
• From 2000 to 2001, when inflation was 3.4
  percent, per pupil expenditures for energy rose
  from 137 to 166 (22 percent)3

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The Influence of Small Changes

• A few days after a big blackout in 2003, the
  University at Buffalo was quick to respond to an
  emergency request from the regional grid to cut
  back its electricity use.
• Maintenance personnel took steps to turn off
  equipment and lights that were not absolutely
  necessary.
• IN 1 DAY, the savings
  amounted to
• 11,157.36

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Changing Your Schools Energy Use

• Top energy performing schools use 3X less energy
  than the least efficient schools!
• First Steps
• Perform an Energy Survey or Audit
• Implement a Policy or Resolution
• Start with No Cost or Low Cost Options

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Easy Solutions-No Cost
Courtesy of PGE
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Easy Solutions-Low Cost
Courtesy of PGE
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Easy Solutions-Investments
Courtesy of PGE
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Energy Star

• Products meet strict energy efficiency standards
  set by US EPA and the US Department of Energy
• In 2005 the US saved enough energy to
• Avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to
  those from 23 million cars
• Saved 12 billion on utility bills
• Helped avoid 28,000 megawatts (MW) of peak
  power

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Demand Cleaner Energy!

• Contact your Board of Public Utilities to see if
  clean, local renewable energy sources are
  available
• Incorporate renewable energy into the power pool
  that serves your needs

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Student Involvement

• Create signs to educate about saving energy
• Write articles in the school paper
• Research projects examining energy usage over
  time
• Contests between student groups
• Science projects dealing
  with energy

Courtesy of APOGEE Interactive
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SuccessNow What?

• Evaluate energy conservation after changes
• Estimate financial savings
• Reinvest your savings for future projects
• Publicize your success

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Why Is Energy Conservation Important?

• Energy production has negative effects on the
  environment and human health

Courtesy of the Department of Natural Resources
in Maryland
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The Products of Fossil Fuel Use

• Greenhouse Gas emissions increased 16 between
  1990 and 20041, and carbon emissions are
  expected to grow 45 between 1990 and 20152

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The Most Recent Data in 2003 Indicates

• US Energy Sources released
• 256.4 million metric tons of Methane
• 228 thousand metric tons of Nitrous Oxide
• 1021.1 million metric tons of Carbon Dioxide
• 142.4 million metric tons (carbon dioxide
  equivalent) of Hydrofluorocarbons,
  Perfluorocarbons, and Sulfur Hexafluoride

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Health Concerns

• Air Quality
• Smog
• NOx and SOx
• In the United States, about 2/3 of all sulfur
  dioxide and ¼ of all nitrogen oxide comes from
  electric power generation that relies on burning
  fossil fuels like coal
• Particulate Matter
• A mixture of particles that can adversely
  affect health
• Toxins
• Arsenic and Mercury

Photo Courtesy of David Suzuki Foundation
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Why Do Greenhouse Gases Matter?
Courtesy of tiscali.reference
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Why Do Greenhouse Gases Matter?

• Historic link between carbon dioxide
  concentration and temperature rise

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What Does the World Look Like with Global Warming?

• One study suggests that with minimal climate
  warming,18 of the species studied would become
  extinct with moderate climate warming, about 25
  would become extinct and with maximum warming,
  35 would become extinct1
• The climate of Greenland may warm enough during
  the next few centuries to eventually eliminate
  the Greenland ice sheet, raising sea level by 7
  meters (23 feet)2
• Sea ice cover in the Arctic is declining by 9
  percent per decade3
• The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has
  increased by 80 percent worldwide during the past
  35 years4

Sea Ice 1979
Sea Ice 2003
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In Summary

• Energy production includes environmental and
  human health costs.

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In Summary

• You have the power to make a difference

Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are
but one thread within it.  Whatever we do to the
web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound
together.  All things connect.  Chief Seattle,
1855
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Questions?