WHAT IS ENERGY CONSERVATION?

Energy conservation is the process of identifying and taking steps to reduce overall energy usage. With
so many devices and opportunities every day to expend energy, there are also a large number of ways to
minimize output. Strategies vary from person to person as some are able to simply do with less when it
comes to electricity, heating, or cooling. Others have taken a more modern approach with the help of
energy-saving technology such as smart thermostats, efficient light bulbs, and even smart power strips.
1. Take advantage of a home energy audit
A home energy audit is an assessment that allows you to identify the best ways to improve the energy
efficiency within your home. This audit easily identifies which areas of the house require the most
electricity and cooling and is important for reducing waste. Audits are best left to professional
companies but can be done tentatively by homeowners.
2. Repair any electrical issues in the home.
Whether it’s electrical surges, bulbs burning out, or constant flickering, it’s important to make sure that
you handle the electrical issues within your home. Due to the nature of the task, this requires the help of
a licensed electrical professional who can inspect the circuitry in the home and repair old wiring, as well
as swap out circuit boxes, electrical outlets, or any other items that may need to be replaced.
Repairing your electrical issues is important for a number of reasons, most notably the danger involved
with faulty electronic devices.
3. Invest in energy-efficient appliances for the home.
There comes a time when the old appliances in your home must eventually be replaced with new ones.
At that moment, you have the opportunity to make subtle changes that can help you improve the energy
conservation within your home. One easy way to do that is to begin replacing old appliances with new
ones that have energy-efficient labels.
In doing so, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR ratings and the logo on appliances, which indicate
that the appliance uses up less energy. Especially for things like your washer, dryer, or even refrigerator,
which is an appliance that runs 24/7, this is important because finding a new one that uses up even a bit
less will have a consistent and long-term benefit.
4. Use power strips wherever possible
Power strips are the devices that plug into your wall and offer a number of sockets to plug in your other
electronics. In addition to allowing you to optimize the number of things that can be plugged into any
given outlet, Power strips also allow for one succinct power down.
5. Switch to LED light bulbs
Energy-efficient bulbs, which have been growing in popularity lately, are variations on the traditional
incandescent variety that offer a number of money-saving and energy-saving benefits. Though there are
a few types, the bulb that has emerged as the front-runner in energy-efficient technology is LEDs.
LED bulbs have greater overall efficiency, overcoming flaws in incandescent bulbs like their poor
ability to function in cold temperatures.
6. Set the water heater to the lowest comfortable setting.
While manufacturers recommend a water heater temperature of 135-140 degrees Fahrenheit, as a general
rule, hot water at 115 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for a home with more than two people. At this
temperature, water is still able to be heated to a warm level but it is not a scalding temperature.
This is good for saving, as the amount you normally have to shelve out for hot water will be reduced
considerably. In addition, a lower water heater temperature is better for your piping. If 115 degrees is
not to your liking, you still have the ability to adjust the heater to an acceptable level without overdoing
it and incurring unnecessary costs.
7. Do laundry efficiently.
Doing laundry may seem like just another chore, but there is a lot of energy usage that goes into it. In
order to cut back on the amount of energy that is used when doing laundry, there are a number of things
that can be done.
Use the cold water setting for washing clothes, and use the dry sensor feature on the dryer to conserve
energy. Cleaning the lint trap between dry cycles will also help your machine to run more efficiently.
This will help to optimize the machine’s output and also help you to save. If you want to realize even
more savings, consider hanging your clothes on a line to air dry.
8. Turn off televisions, radios and computer monitors when not in use.
Leaving a computer monitor on may seem like a minuscule drain on energy consumption, but it adds up.
Combining this with the numerous times we have multiple devices running at once means that tiny drain
may actually be a bit larger than we realize.
The best means of combatting this unnecessary energy use is to simply power down devices when you
are not using them.
9. Program the thermostat
Smart thermostats are devices that can be used in your home to heat and cool your rooms. They vary
from traditional thermostats in that they can be programmed remotely with the help of other devices,
like our phones.
Whether while we’re sleeping or out of our homes, programmable thermostats are an easyway to
conserve energy.
10. Check that the home is insulated properly.
The process of checking your home simply requires you to give it a walkthrough inspection and search
for any damage that may have been done by the elements over time. In addition, be sure to check the
insulation in the walls, attic, and around plumbing.
Identifying areas that need to be fixed or sealed will help to keep unwanted air out and will enable a
controlled temperature within your home. Because of this, you will not need to adjust your thermostat to
compensate for leaking air and will save yourself money.

There are many other ways to conserve energy, but one of the best ways to save energy is to choose
prepaid electricity. Offering low-cost energy plans to suit both personal and business needs, Payless
Power is a company committed to providing people not only with some of the
best electricity rates in Texas but also with helpful customer service.

The Specific Case of Energy Technology Innovation

Energy technology innovation can broadly be defined as processes that improve existing technologies or
create new ones and assist in technology transfer from the laboratory to commercial widespread use.

Unlike more traditional innovation sectors such as electronics or pharmaceuticals, energy innovation
systems are often organized somewhat differently due to the nature of energy sector. Specifically, the
energy sector has multiple public good dimensions that by themselves are not addressed by markets: it is
essential for meeting basic development needs as well as other supporting economic activities.

energy technology sited in a highly-sensitive area may have serious environmental impacts. As any
technology is taken to scale, the chances of individual facilities intersecting