The Impact of Efficient Use of Energy and Waste Management on Energy Conservation
In my studies I have learned that we have to be more aware of the proper and efficient ways to conserve energy if we are to make this world a better place to live. In the past few years we have witnessed the rapid rise of technological and scientific innovation that continues to provide us more protection, more comfort and a better life. But we have to understand that we all live in a global community that depends on a scarce, limited amount of resources and energy. Every food we eat, every item we buy from our favorite department store, and every luxury we indulge in comes from our limited resource. And everyday we hear media reports about climate change, over-exploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction and fragmentation, diseases, and all kinds of environmental issues.
This particular piece of extra study, which focuses on the impact of efficient energy use and waste management on energy conservation, is important because this is an issue that most people take for granted or ignore today. People need to understand the role of energy conservation in the protection and preservation of mans one and only habitatplanet earth and to discover the most efficient ways and strategy to achieve this goal. The result of my extra study reveals that in order for us to conserve energy, we must first discover and understand the role and importance of waste management and the efficient use of energy. Furthermore, this extra study fits into the module, as it is an integral, significant aspect of environmental management.
Extra Learning
For several days I studied a number of articles online, particularly those in the website of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and other online news reports and journal articles. These readings gave me additional insight into the impact of efficient use of energy and waste management on energy conservation. The titles of the CIWEM articles are the following Sustainable Communities and Water Incineration. Online news articles include the following Energy efficiency and Technology, Energy Pulse Survey Homeowners in 2009 Prefer Appearance Over Energy-Efficiency, Sainsburys to Turn Food Fuel into Biofuel, Waste Management and Energy Savings Benefits by the Numbers, Household Hazardous Waste, All New Starbucks Stores to be LEED-Certified, UK Home Owners Take a Liking to Energy Efficiency Technology, and Tesco in 100M Boost to UK Green Economy, among others.
I devoted the second week of my studies to reading journal articles in order to learn some important matters concerning the efficient use of energy, and this led me to the scholarly work of Cullen and Allwood (2009) entitled The Efficient Use of Energy Tracing the Global Flow of Energy from Fuel to Service. This study shows the need to map or trace the global flow of energy in order to discover the most effective ways to conserve energy. Other journal articles that are incorporated in this paper are the following A Review of Municipal Solid Waste Composition in the United Kingdom (Burnley 2006), The Role of Build Environment Energy Efficiency in a Sustainable UK Energy Economy (Clarke et al 2008), Weather Sensitivity in Household Appliance Energy End-Use (Hart and de Dear 2003), while books include Energy Efficient Homes for Dummies (DeGunther 2008), Environmental Management, Sustainable Development and Human (Laboy-Nieves 2008), The Economics of Energy Efficiency Barriers to Cost-Effective Investment (Sorrel 2004), and ) Handbook of Energy Audits (Thumann and Younger 2008).
These online and journal articles gave me an idea that energy conservation can be achieved through efficient use of energy, which can be fulfilled through reduction or curbing of greenhouse and carbon dioxide emissions. Indeed, this topic has a global significance since all countries today confront the issues of energy crisis and pollution. Waste management, on the other hand, plays a significant role not only in the process of waste disposal, but also in each stage of products life cycle from acquisition of raw materials to consumption.
Energy conservation is not the main concern of politicians, policy planners, environmental management experts, environmentalists, global warming advocates, big corporations and businesses. Every individual on this planetrich or poor, business owner of a plain housewifemust be aware of and interested in the proper ways to conserve energy. We cannot deny the fact that everyday we consume a specific amount of energy. In my case, whenever I drive or commute to a nearby mall or to any place, I know I consume a specific amount of energy. This only means that all of us are highly dependent on energy and important technologies discovered and invented in our period. As long as there are inventors and innovators who discover new wonders, we continue to use and spend energy.
Now I believe that since almost all aspects of our lives depend on technologies and material needs, it is difficult for us to adjust to our energy needs. Not all people can afford energy-efficient cars. Not all households can have solar panels that generate electricity. In order to address energy crisis or any environmental issue (e.g. pollution, toxic wastes, illegal logging, etc.), it is important for us to know the proper ways and means to conserve energy or to discover alternative energy resource or technologies that consume less amount of energy.
Description
I came to understand that as most of the developed countries in the world face overpopulation and environmental issues, it is only necessary to look at the role of environmental management in understanding the modern societies and their relation with the environment (Laboy-Nieves 2008 68). I live in a modern society where people spend a considerable amount of energy everyday. The progress and development is self-evident. Luxury cars that consume gallons of gas per day can be seen everywhere in the streets. People love to go shopping or travel to different places within the country or abroad. This made me think that perhaps our modern culture necessitates too much energy consumption.
In my case I love to travel and go to beautiful and interesting places. I spend more than six hours in front of my computer everyday. My place is complete with modern appliances like television set, air-conditioning unit, cooking materials, and dishwasher, among others. Thus I can say that I am a voracious energy consumer. I understand that the more we buy things to consume and the more we depend on modern technologies, the more we consume energy and the more amount of waste we produce. However, it is the last chain of energy use, which is the production of wastes that many of us tend to ignore or take for granted.
Article Critique
Waste management has a great impact on the environment, as it affects air quality, water, and soil, but energy consumption as well. We all know that the United States is the biggest energy consumer in the world. In 1999 the Americans were said to have produced 230 million tons of solid waste, a situation that posed a great challenge to the US government on how to manage this great amount of waste (Choate and Ferland 2008).
When it comes to energy conservation and waste management, it is important to know the life cycle of products. This life cycle includes the following 1) acquisition of the needed raw materials, 2) production or manufacture of new goods, 3) the use of these products by consumers, and 4) their disposal.
Waste is produced or generated from the very first stage of this life cycle. The acquisition of the needed raw materials necessarily generates wastes. I am aware that illegal logging is rampant in other countries. Logging activities, whether legal or illegal, do not merely produce tons and tons of cut trees, but produced too much amount of waste as well.
Not only does irresponsible logging activity severely affect the ecological balance of mountains or rainforests, but it also has an impact on the people living in any given community. Apart from the environmental impact of logging, it also has both human and economic costs. Indeed, logging activities could produce a great amount of waste, as well as potential hazard on the lives of the people living near that area, and my assumption is that this kind of activity produces both actual and potential wastes.
An official report states that the United Kingdom generates some 177 million tonnes of waste per year from construction and demolition sites, industries, factories, and households (CIWEM n.d.). In order to solve this problem the UK government uses the following technologies for the incineration of MSW mass burn, fluidized bed combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis (CIWEM n.d.). UK authorities also applied the waste management hierarchy as its waste management policy (Unversity of Liverpool 2010). The main goal of this policy is to reduce the generation of waste and to use recycling methods. However, the problem with most households is their improper disposal of hazardous wastes. This proves that even a highly developed nation like Great Britain also experiences problems concerning proper waste disposal.
Some irresponsible households just throw their wastes into storm sewers or pour them down the drain. This improper waste disposal also happens in my place. I believe that it happens almost everywhere in the world. This is the reason why we have to understand the role of environmental management, which must focus on the political side of various environmental issues, and the necessity to come up with environmental protection and conservation programs, as well as the needed resources in order to achieve a specific goal.
As an individual I need to be concerned about the impact of efficient energy use and proper waste management on energy conservation. This is because more amount of energy spent means more expenditure. Most successful companies and businesses understand the relation between energy conservation and more profits. For example, Tesco, one of the top companies in the United Kingdom, recently announced its plan to invest 100m in green technology (MyNewsDesk 2010). This is not surprising since UK is a fast rising green economy.
Starbucks Coffee also joined the green bandwagon as the company planned to turn all its more than 8,000 coffee stores into LEED-certified outlets (Hurst 2009). As a result of this company policy, Starbucks started replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with light emitting diodes (LEDs) since 2009. This decision was intended to reduce seven percent of energy each store and cut maintenance expenditure. Also a British retain company, Sainsburys, planned to convert food waste into biofuel (BusinessGreen 2009). This move would turn Sainsburys into an energy-efficient store that would save the company more money and help in the global initiative to combat energy crisis.
There are still a lot of business owners in my city who ignoreor are still not aware of the impact of energy preservation on their income or profits. This is the reason why I chose this extra study in order to dwell into the economic and business advantages of conserving energy. Most people today must understand that energy conservation does not merely pertain to environmental issues it may also impact their monthly savings or household expenditure. But thanks to the efforts and initiative of environmental educators and scholarly journals that tackle environmental issues because according to a latest survey, more people today recognize the importance of recycling (Whitney 2010). This survey states that 40 percent of the people surveyed know that recycling of electronic gadgets or products like computers, batteries, televisions, paint, aluminum cans, used motor oil, glass, fluorescent lamps, and Christmas tress is important. But recycling these items are not merely important, it could only give the people more money or more savings.
I understand that waste management sounds like a costly venture. For instance, some people in my place thought that waste management requires a huge amount of capital and technology. This may be true but the problem is they are merely looking at the other side of the coin. It is true that waste management requires capital outlay, resources, and technical know-how, but it can be a very lucrative venture. Now I understand that there is a need to change peoples consciousness or perception in regard to the issue of waste management or even environmental management.
Based on my observation, some, if not most, people thought that environmental management and waste management are a highly technical and costly endeavor. Now I believe that the solution is to help them understand not only the environmental benefits, but also the economic advantages of waste management. I also observed that most people tend to be more interested in and attracted to a given activity or venture if they knew they would gain economic benefits from it.
In the United Kingdom, problems concerning waste management led environmental experts to shift from landfill-based to resource-based waste management (Burnley 2006). However, resource-based waste management necessitates higher skills and greater knowledge about the composition of municipal solid waste. According to recent surveys, there was a good agreement over the composition of collected waste from homes or households. I believe that one possible good explanation for this is that the waste management programs, as well as the waste containers, provided by the local governments influenced household-collected waste generation. This is the reason why local authorities must play a role in the waste management efforts or initiatives in order to encourage households, including businesses, to support the government waste management and cleanliness program.
The United Kingdom is now trying to discover revolutionary technologies to cut the dependence on foreign energy sources and to help heighten energy efficiency (British Embassy 2010). To achieve this goal, the British government has increased its funding and focused on policy guidelines and research. There is no doubt that energy efficiency plays a major, significant role in built environment, particularly in the United Kingdom. However, in order to achieve energy efficiency in the built environment, it is important for the UK environmental planners to ensure greater public awareness. Thus, policy-planners and environmental managers must take into account such aspects as improved building regulations, legislation concerning environmental awareness and policies, building technologies, and new efficient domestic appliances (Clarke et al 2008 4605). This is consistent with the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Managements pronouncement that UK needs to establish sustainable communities in order to achieve the three pillars of sustainable development social equity, protection of the environment, and balanced economic growth (CIWEM 2003).
However, we cannot deny the fact the most people have their own choices and decisions. There are some people who are aware of the advantages of recycling and waste management while there are others who just do not care. One possible explanation to this social behavior is the fact that most people today are hooked on modern gadgets and technologies. A survey conducted last year revealed that most homeowners would prefer to improve the appearance of their homes rather than embarking on energy efficiency upgrades (Burney 2009). Another survey also conducted last year revealed that most people, particularly the young ones, would choose modern gadgets and electronic products over the environment (Treacy 2009). This is indeed true in our generation since there are now an unlimited array of electronic gadgets and modern technologies available in the market.
It is interesting to know and understand peoples perception in regard to their lifestyle and market behavior. Perhaps this understanding would provide a clearer view for environmentalists and environmental policy makers on why the global effort to encourage people embrace energy-efficiency idea is making a slow progress.
On the other hand, proper insight into the efficient use of energy is the key to solving the problems posed by carbon dioxide and greenhouse emissions (DeGunther 2008 19). In their study entitled The Efficient Use of Energy Tracing the Global Flow of Energy from Fuel to Service, Cullen and Allwood (2009 75) introduced two factors that play a significant role in appraising societies potential gains from the use of energy efficiency technologies the scale or extent of energy flow and the scientific potential for improvement or development. We all know that energy flow starts from the use of energy or fuel to the delivery of final services to end-users or consumers.
It is already given that the continued improvement in the efficiency of energy use is intimately related to the expansion and development of industrial societies. The issue of energy crisis encouraged or forced the innovators, scientists, and creators to look for alternative sources of energy. The same crisis also led the innovators and creators to look for potential ways in order to save energy. In the past years we have seen drastic and aggressive technological and scientific innovation that greatly improved human condition and cost of living. This is one of the positive corollaries of energy scarcity, as the innovators and the creators of wealth are compelled to discover alternative technologies.
In order to understand how to properly conserve energy, Cullen and Allwood (2009) traced the global energy flow, which starts from fuels or petroleum products to the delivery of final services. However, unlike previous studies, the researches considered two novel aspects, which are important for future research and studies the concept of passive systems and the technical conversion mechanisms in each energy chain. I understand that these two aspects must not be overlooked, as they help identify the technical areas, which could probably explain the ways by which to generate the highest level of efficiency gain by means of tracing the complexity of global flow of energy, which primarily involve the following technical areasinitial energy sources, end-use conversion methods, passive systems, and the final services
Based on this study, I understand that the two important actions to help overcome the problems posed by global energy crisis are energy conservation and efficient energy use (Thumann and Younger 2008 223). Several nations today, which include the country where I live, have given so much interest in informing the public on the efficient use of energy. However, it appears that information dissemination process is not enough based on the surveys, which I tackled above.
According to a recent report, homeowners in the United Kingdom become more attracted to energy efficiency technology (Becks 1010). UK homebuyers today have started to recognize the importance of energy efficient technologies in their homes. It is interesting to observe how public perception changed today, as there are now more people who are aware of the role of technology in energy-saving initiatives. I understand that the global energy crisis both effects developed and less developed nations. Most countries today are seeing the need of new electricity generation because of various factors like the increase of population, the availability of new technologies, gadgets and electronic goods, and economic expansion that leads to the creation of new businesses, among others.
We all know that buildings and new infrastructures are integral part of the commercial sector that heavily relies on energy. This situation should pressure environmental managers and policy makers to focus on cost-effective efficiency investments (Sorrell 2004 2). The efficient use of energy may lead to more savings for businesses and families. For example, homes and building-users might replace energy-consuming technologies, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, and hot water heaters with innovative and highly efficient models (Hart and de Dear 2003).
Apart from helping reduce the amount of greenhouse and carbon dioxide emissions, this move could provide more savings to households and businesses and help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse emissions. Since industrial and transport sectors also consume a great amount of energy, they may also embark on energy efficiency methods to reduce carbon emissions and gain more savings through more efficient use of energy.
It is almost a universal knowledge that efficient energy use leads to energy conservation. One does not have to study environmental management in order to understand this dichotomy. The only problem I see is personal implementation and technological distraction. My observation of the people in my community proves that personal commitment is lacking in the global effort or initiative to conserve energy. Government policies concerning environmental protection and energy conservation are clear. In fact most governments spend too much money and resources on information campaign.
Reflection changes and initiatives
In order to encourage people to conserve energy through energy efficient use, changes may be made with respect to government policies, industry-level efforts and personal-level efforts. Government policies may focus on giving incentives (e.g. tax credits, subsidies, awards, loan, etc.) to innovators or manufacturers so to encourage them to discover clean alternative energy, energy-efficient technologies, and new technologies for waste management. This strategy might spur technological and scientific innovation on the part of the manufacturers and companies. It might also encourage businesses and communities to embark on clean and proper waste management disposal.
On the industry-level, the forces of the markets are the best form of control. Consumers tend to support and
patronize companies and business establishments that care for the environment. In my case, I like going to Starbucks not only because I love their coffee, but also because of their environmental advocacy.
But how do we encourage individuals to conserve energy through efficient energy use How do we encourage them to replace their light bulbs, air-conditioning unit, heater, furnaces and other appliances with energy-efficient technologies These are the questions that not only bother environmental managers, but policy-makers as well.
People have their own choices. Personally I am attracted to modern gadgets, sometimes without knowing if they are energy efficient or not. Personal commitment is something that must be grounded in proper understanding of the issue at hand and its consequences. Today one of the most important and challenging issues is energy conservation. It does not merely challenge nations or societies, but individuals as well. On the individual level, it challenges them to make a commitment, that is, a strong commitment to conserve energy.
But there is one thing that could prevent or preclude us from making personal commitment, and this is technological distraction. Every year we are distracted by the introduction of new technologies and electronic gadgets to the market. The appeal of new technologies is so strong that it could change our lifestyle. Technologies are important to our lives. In fact, they are already part of our lives.
We use technology from the very moment we wake up in the morning. We consume energy whenever we cook our breakfast, go to school or work, or travel to different places. And every time we consume energy we produce wastes. The manufacturer that produced the food we eat generated wastes, while the retail company where we bought it also generated a certain amount of waste. The chain goes on and on.
In order to conserve energy it is not necessary that I have to change my lifestyle. There are alternative energy-efficient technologies in the market that can replace energy-consuming appliances and gadgets that I use. Such appliances as hot water heaters, furnaces, freezers, refrigerators, and air conditioners may be replaced with highly efficient and innovative models that consume lesser amount of energy.
What is necessary is change in terms of ones personal beliefs and convictions. It would be hypocritical to say that I have to totally abandon the use of electronic gadgets and technologies, which are important to my studies and work. The availability of energy-efficient alternative technologies in the market can help solve the issue of energy crisis, thereby encouraging people to conserve energy.
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