With all the brouhaha about clean energy, we need to look at some facts. Will we achieve our goal of reducing carbon footprint by significantly increasing renewable energy sources or reducing our energy usage or both? The simple answer is both but to surprise of many, we achieve significant savings by doing simple energy conservation.
The ability to conserve energy (electricity) in buildings is very significant. This is especially true for larger buildings such as concert halls, hotels, conference centers, etc. Simple energy control systems such daylight harvesting, demand control systems can result in upwards of 20-30% electricity
savings. If these are applied across all buildings, these savings will not only result in more savings but reduction of greenhouse / non-renewable energy plants such as coal fired plants.
Currently significant focus of both venture community and govt is on solar, wind, and thermal power generation plants. This is but natural - its great photo op. However these are capital intensive businesses requiring very high upfront costs. And their impact on the total power grid is not be more than 7 to 9%. Case in point, a typical coal fired plants is in the order of 1.5 GW (1500 MW) while the average output solar plant is 50 MW .
So, my point is that our focus must be on energy conservation and saving which in effect is best way to reach clean energy goals in the short run.
The ability to conserve energy (electricity) in buildings is very significant. This is especially true for larger buildings such as concert halls, hotels, conference centers, etc. Simple energy control systems such daylight harvesting, demand control systems can result in upwards of 20-30% electricity
savings. If these are applied across all buildings, these savings will not only result in more savings but reduction of greenhouse / non-renewable energy plants such as coal fired plants.Currently significant focus of both venture community and govt is on solar, wind, and thermal power generation plants. This is but natural - its great photo op. However these are capital intensive businesses requiring very high upfront costs. And their impact on the total power grid is not be more than 7 to 9%. Case in point, a typical coal fired plants is in the order of 1.5 GW (1500 MW) while the average output solar plant is 50 MW .
So, my point is that our focus must be on energy conservation and saving which in effect is best way to reach clean energy goals in the short run.
PS: Chart from EIA - energy information authority (US govt) http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/renew_energy_consump/rea_prereport.html
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