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Energy Conservation Refers To Efforts Made To Reduce Energy Consumption. Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation Refers To Efforts Made To Reduce Energy Consumption. Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation Refers To Efforts Made To Reduce Energy Consumption. Energy Conservation
Energy conservation
can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy
consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources.
Energy conservation can result in increased financial capital, environmental quality, national
security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct
consumers of energy choose to conserve energy to reduce energy costs and promote economic
security. Industrial and commercial users can increase energy use efficiency to maximize profit.
Contents
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[edit] Japan
Advertising with high energy in Shinjuku, Japan.
Since the 1973 oil crisis, energy conservation has been an issue in Japan. All oil based fuel is
imported, so indigenous sustainable energy is being developed.
The Energy Conservation Center promotes energy efficiency in every aspect of Japan. Private
entities are implementing the efficient use of energy for industries.
[edit] Lebanon
In Lebanon and since 2002 The Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC) has been
promoting the development of efficient and rational uses of energy and the use of renewable
energy at the consumer level. It was created as a project financed by the Global Environment
Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Energy Water (MEW) under the management of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and gradually established itself as an independent
technical national center although it continues to be supported by the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) as indicated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed between MEW and UNDP on June 18, 2007.
In New Zealand the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority is responsible for promoting
energy efficiency and conservation.
At the end of 2006, the European Union-EU pledged to cut its annual consumption of primary
energy by 20% by 2020.[1] The 'European Union Energy Efficiency Action Plan' is long awaited.
As part of the EU's SAVE Programme,[2] aimed at promoting energy efficiency and encouraging
energy-saving behaviour, the Boiler Efficiency Directive[3] specifies minimum levels of
efficiency for boilers fired with liquid or gaseous fuels.
Energy conservation in the United Kingdom has been receiving increased attention over recent
years. Key factors behind this are the Government's commitment to reducing carbon emissions,
the projected 'energy gap' in UK electricity generation, and the increasing reliance on imports to
meet national energy needs. Domestic housing and road transport are currently the two biggest
problem areas.
Responsibility for energy conservation fall between three Government departments although is
led by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). The Department for
Communities and Local Government (CLG) is still responsible for energy standards in buildings,
and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) retains a residual interest
in energy insofar as it leads to emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas. The Department for
Transport retains many responsibilities for energy conservation in transport. At an operational
level, there are two main non-departmental governmental bodies ("quangoes") - the Energy
Saving Trust, working mainly in the domestic sector with some interest in transport, and the
Carbon Trust, working with industry and innovative energy technologies. In addition there are
many independent NGOs working in the sector such as the Centre for Sustainable Energy in
Bristol or the National Energy Foundation in Milton Keynes.
The United States is currently the largest single consumer of energy. The U.S. Department of
Energy categorizes national energy use in four broad sectors: transportation, residential,
commercial, and industrial.[4]
Energy usage in transportation and residential sectors, about half of U.S. energy consumption, is
largely controlled by individual consumers. Commercial and industrial energy expenditures are
determined by businesses entities and other facility managers. National energy policy has a
significant effect on energy usage across all four sectors, and its strengthening is part of the 2010
Presidential-Congressional legislative debate.
Some retailers argue that bright lighting stimulates purchasing. However, health studies
have demonstrated that headache, stress, blood pressure, fatigue and worker error all
generally increase with the common over-illumination present in many workplace and
retail settings.[7][8] It has been shown that natural daylighting increases productivity levels
of workers, while reducing energy consumption.[9]
Electric motors consume more than 60% of all electrical energy generated and are
responsible for the loss of 10 to 20% of all electricity converted into mechanical energy.
[11]
Consumers are often poorly informed of the savings of energy efficient products. The
research one must put into conserving energy often is too time consuming and costly
when there are cheaper products and technology available using today's fossil fuels.[12]
Some governments and NGOs are attempting to reduce this complexity with ecolabels
that make differences in energy efficiency easy to research while shopping.
In deregulated states commercial utility customers have the ability to compare energy
rates among available electricity and natural gas providers.