The society depends on energy to ensure quality of life and to support all other economy aspects. Technologies related to renewable energy provide the promise of plentiful, clean energy derived from renewable resources such as the, wind, sun, and plants. Renewable energy is a word that refers to several forms of energy production. Renewable energy is frequently positioned as a significant solution to the global climate crisis in politics, business, and academics. Fundamentally, energy conservation is consuming less energy to reduce expenses and environmental effects. The practice may involve consuming less electricity, gas, or any other energy form from your utility provider. With limited energy resources accessible on our planet, it is advantageous for individuals and our larger energy systems to conserve energy whenever possible. Energy conservation typically involves measures to reduce energy consumption. For example, shutting off lights when not in use is an energy conservation method.
While energy conservation is the practice of attempting to use less energy for economic and environmental reasons, energy efficiency refers to using items specifically designed to consume less energy (Difs et al., 2017). These two notions are fundamentally similar but employ distinct approaches. Examples of energy conservation include using energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs at home.
Measures to promote energy conservation
New appliance standards and education programs can contribute to energy conservation. Examples of typical schemes are rebates for energy-efficient items, energy audit services for improving different facilities. In addition, some programs stimulate the purchase of new, high-performance homes, that meet specific criteria. To have sustainable energy for Greenburg’s hypothetical city, specific measures need to be taken, including purchasing energy-efficient appliances, adjusting day-to-day behaviors, reducing water heating expenses, and coming up with government energy conservation policies.
People do not need to acquire energy-efficient products to reduce energy usage in their homes and boost their energy savings. Conservation of energy can be as simple as shutting off unnecessary lights and appliances. Residents in Greenburg can also reduce their energy use by manually performing household tasks, such as air-drying clothes (Difs et al., 2017). During the winter, the people in the city can switch of the thermostat heat and use the air conditioner less during summer to reduce utility costs. The reductions in the heating and cooling frequency give significant savings since the two expenses account for roughly half of home’s utility bills.
The second way for the city of Greenburg residents to conserve energy is to buy energy-efficient gadgets. Notably, home gadgets account for around 13 percent of the average household’s overall energy use. Therefore, when acquiring a gadget, people should consider both the buying price and the yearly operating cost (Dincer, 2020). While energy-efficient gadgets may be expensive, their ongoing expenses are frequently lower than conventional ones. When selecting a machine that is energy-efficient, individuals should check for the energy star label, a federal assurance that the device will spend less energy in standby mode than regular versions. Energy savings vary depending on the machine. Clothes washers with an energy star, for instance, use less energy than the other models.
Reducing water heating costs is an additional energy-saving measure. The heating of water is a significant contributor to energy usage. On top of acquiring a water heater that is energy-efficient, there are more ways to reduce water heating costs. People can use less hot water, adjust the water heater’s thermostat, or insulate the water heaters to save energy (Dincer, 2020). Suppose individuals are contemplating upgrading their water heaters with a more efficient one. In that case, they must examine the type of water heater that matches their demands and the kind of fuel it will use.
Specific steps to move the city toward sustainable energy production
To advance the city toward sustainable energy generation, it is necessary to combine a holistic view of the energy system with sensitivity to the changing demands and concerns of the residents. Therefore, implementing a vision of 100 percent renewable energy necessitates both technological and societal concerns to ensure a just energy transition. Implementing this may necessitate examining and paying attention to socioeconomic differences.
One of the best ways to move the city toward sustainable energy production is to encourage more wind power use. The wind is a free natural resource that can be harnessed and used to power the town (Gonzales et al., 2019). The government and local authorities should develop plans and methods of ensuring most of the energy in the city of Greenburg are coming from wind. Doing this will reduce the use of non-renewable sources of power in the town.
Another valuable source of renewable energy in Greenburg is biomass, used for heating and electricity production. Different alternative sources of biomass can be used for energy production. Biogas plants reliant on corn, for example, can be used to generate energy at a low cost. Solar energy is another renewable energy source that can be utilized in urban areas. Solar energy can power municipal structures and public transportation (Zheng et al., 2018). The platform itself is open source, customizable, and may be copied in any city desiring to utilize solar energy.
Actions that involve switching from non-renewable energy sources to renewable energy sources
To move from non-renewable energy sources to renewable energy sources, the city must establish clear objectives and practical, locally-relevant activities. A roadmap for energy is an informed strategy to increase the proportion of renewables in the energy mix and expedite the transition away from fossil fuels (Zheng et al., 2018). In addition to developing a citywide vision for renewable energy, it can also coordinate with national policy, create forums for collaboration within and beyond local government, and attract private investment. It needs to be linked to the city’s climate action plan.
Consequently, the municipality should determine which renewable energy sources are most viable locally. Solar power, geothermal power, tidal wave power, wind power, wastewater gas to energy, and hydropower are the primary renewable energy sources that the city can utilize. As demonstrated in the table below, the sustainability of each depends on the local availability of natural resources, technological capacity, financial viability, and legislative constraints. Obtaining solutions to the environmental problems we confront now necessitates activities with a long-term perspective for sustainable development. Renewable energy sources seem to be one of the most effective alternatives in this regard.
Secondly, it is crucial to establish objectives and plan scenarios. It is essential to include utilities, significant energy-consuming institutions, relevant civil society groups, the public, and other stakeholders in determining local targets that are ambitious yet attainable (Zhou et al., 2019). Informed by the feasibility study, an inclusive and consultative target-setting process will assist in gaining widespread support for objectives. Additionally, it will help identify the most viable and acceptable scenarios for achieving these goals, thereby expediting the transition to renewable energy. In addition, scenarios with various renewable energy combinations and growth rates should be mapped out, and the targets should be aligned with existing city infrastructure plans.
A plan that will move the city forward using renewable energy
To move the city forward using renewable energy, the city should establish federal government energy conservation programs. Government energy conservation policies would appear to build on more significant energy conservation progress. Examples of national government energy conservation programs include creating energy efficiency standards for appliances, supporting the introduction of building codes that are energy-efficient, and providing financial incentives for obtaining energy-efficient products (Zhou et al., 2019). Giving technical and educational assistance for citizens is also essential.
In conclusion, energy conservation is essential and advantageous for numerous reasons. Simple measures to save energy can help the city save finances, raise homes’ value, and protect the environment. Regardless of the motivation for conserving energy in the first place, there are significant benefits that may be enjoyed by doing so. By taking a tiny step toward a more energy-conscious lifestyle, the city may immediately start to enjoy all the benefits of being energy efficient.
