Energy Conservation and U.S. Energy Independence
Conserving Energy Potential in Reducing Foreign Oil Dependence
Oct 29, 2008
American energy independence has economic, political, security and environmental benefits. The most cost effective means of moving towards achieving energy independence is by the use of energy conservation and increasing energy efficiency. Large cuts in energy consumption can be achieved in the residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors.
American Energy Efficiency
The Handbook of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by Frank Kreith, D. Yogi Goswami, published by CRC Press in 2007 states that “The per capita energy consumption varies by as much as a factor of three between the U.S.A. and some European countries with almost the same level of human development index (HDI).” The authors go on to show that a reduction of 25% to 35% of primary energy use in industrial countries is achievable over the next 20 years without any loss in energy services. This shows that energy conservation, especially in the United States, can become a source of energy itself.
U.S. Energy Use
According to the "Annual Energy Report: 2007", produced by the U.S. EPA, the four main sectors of energy use in the United States are residential, commercial, industrial and transportation. Major reductions in energy use can be achieved in all four areas with a mixture of energy conservation, increased energy efficiency and use of “smart energy”.
Residential Energy Conservation
In Residential Energy by John Krigger and published by Saturn Resource Management in 2004, the author shows that poor insulation, inefficient heating and cooling systems mean that residential usage of energy is up to two times what is needed to achieve comfort and convenience. It states “This excess energy usage costs about $45 billion annually.”
Commercial Sector Energy Efficiency
Energy Management and Conservation Handbook by Frank Kreith, published by CRC Press in 2007, states “Delivered commercial energy consumption is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.9% between 2003 and 2025, reaching 12.4 quadrillion Btu in 2025.” Figures from the 2008 “Buildings Energy Data Book”, published by the U.S. DOE show that by the use of energy efficient devices such as low energy lighting, more efficient heating and cooling systems and less use of appliance’s stand by mode, energy savings of the order of 25% can be achieved with existing technology and very little cost.
Industrial Energy Savings
The “Energy Sector Market Analysis” published by the National Renewable Energy Society in October 2006 states that “The energy losses occurring on-site in manufacturing facilities represent immediate targets for energy efficiency improvements. Of the 24.7 quads of energy used by manufacturing, approximately 5.5 quads (22%) are lost within the industrial plant.” The report goes on to show that updating inefficient motors, better thermal insulating and modernizing heat transfer systems would save up to 16% of present energy use in the industrial sector.
Improvements in Transport Energy Use
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards mandate average light vehicle fuel consumption of around 25 mpg. A report from the Sierra Club, titled “The Biggest Single Step”, published in 2002 states “If all of the vehicles in the U.S. averaged 40 miles per gallon (mpg) we would save over 3 million barrels of oil each day; that is more oil than the United States currently imports from the Persian Gulf and could ever extract from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, combined.”
American dependence on foreign oil can be reduced by conventional energy sources with large environmental impacts or by the use of biofuels with lesser environmental impacts. The quickest, most cost effective and least environmentally damaging means to that end is energy conservation.
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