"Renewable Energy's Dominance: Surpassing Traditional Energy

Conservation in the Pursuit of Sustainable Development"

By: Angel Sophie M. Bonzon

Are we witnessing a seismic shift where the brilliance of renewable energy eclipses the

tried-and-true strategies of energy conservation? The difference between renewable energy and

traditional energy conservation lies in their approaches. Renewable energy harnesses the Earth's

natural movements and gravitational forces (Twidell, 2021), as seen in geothermal energy power

stations that convert heat of the Earth into electricity. On the other hand, the traditional energy

conservation involves deliberate actions to reduce energy usage, such as turning off lights when

leaving a room or opting for walking instead of driving (Energy Conservation Ideas, n.d.),

remain fundamental yet potentially overlooked in the current discourse. We must know that the

current focus on renewable energy is overshadowing the need for an actual energy conservation.

Energy conservation helps in reducing gases emission into the atmosphere which reduces

more environmental impact (Stein, 2024), than renewable energy who is not completely free

from emitting carbon footprints that causes global warming and air pollution (Chen et al., 2023).

According to a study from "The Power of Renewables" (2010), while renewable energy sources

emit low levels of greenhouse gases and conventional air pollutants, the manufacturing and

transportation processes still produce some emissions and pollutants. So, that is why we still

need to do the actual practice of energy conservation.

Additionally, traditional energy conservation does not take up space because it is only a

practice to lessen the use of electricity (Energy Conservation Ideas, n.d.). While renewable

energy does take massive space to construct with over 40 hectares of panels, current solar energy

generation technologies yield about 20 megawatts, while an average nuclear power plant

generating 1,000 megawatts occupies 259 hectares, leaving a solar energy facility utilizing the

same space to produce under 200 megawatts, and a 2-megawatt wind turbine requires 1.5 acres

(about twice the area of a large mansion) compared to a nuclear facility generating

approximately 850 megawatts in the equivalent area (Rinkesh, 2023).

Furthermore, traditional energy conservation reduces energy consumption (Palmetto,

2022). Wherein, it can lower electricity bills and decrease the strain on power grids. Considering

that our goal is to really save energy and money through using renewable energy. We must not
forget to conserve energy by doing trivial things that reduce energy consumption that affects our

environment.

However, we cannot deny that renewable energy creates job opportunities for people

(The Many Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy, 2019) and it is inevitable to not use

electricity and sometimes overuse it. So, people tend to use renewable energy instead of

depending on non-renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, conserving energy means using less

of it in the first place, which can lead to significant cost savings for individuals, businesses, and

governments. This can free up resources that can be allocated to other productive sectors of the

economy, potentially creating more jobs in different industries. Therefore, even though

renewable energy offers a promising solution to reducing our dependence on non-renewable

energy sources, it is not a standalone solution. Energy conservation practices are essential for

maximizing the sustainability, affordability, and efficiency of our energy systems.

To sum up, this emphasizes how important it is to incorporate energy-saving practices

into our everyday lives to support the larger transition to renewable energy sources. Long-term

sustainability requires not only a focus on renewable energy sources but also an appreciation of

the importance of low-tech but high-impact energy-saving measures. The entire approach

supports both environmental conservation and our main objective of maximizing energy and cost

savings. Still, with all the buzz about renewable energy, it is easy to forget how important those

little energy-saving actions are. We need to remember that even small steps can make a

significant difference in saving energy and protecting our planet for the future.

References:
Chen, X. H., Tee, K., Elnahass, M., & Ahmed, R. R. (2023). Assessing the environmental

impacts of renewable energy sources: A case study on air pollution and carbon emissions

in China. Journal of Environmental Management, 345, 118525.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118525

Energy conservation ideas. (n.d.). https://www.constellation.com/energy-101/what-is-energy-

conservation.html#:~:text=What%20Is%20Energy%20Conservation%3F,all%20example

s%20of%20energy%20conservation.
Palmetto. (2022, August 29). Reasons you should save energy. https://palmetto.com/learning-

center/blog/reasons-to-save-energy

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2010). The Power of Renewables:

Opportunities and Challenges for China and the United States. Washington, DC: The

National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12987.

Rinkesh. (2023, August 3). Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy - Conserve

Energy future. Conserve Energy Future. https://www.conserve-energy-

future.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-renewable-energy.php

Stein, Z. (2024, February 6). Energy Conservation | Meaning, importance, Benefits, & tips.

Carbon Collective Investing LLC. https://www.carboncollective.co/sustainable-

investing/energy-

conservation#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20benefits%20of,electricity%20reduces%20

costs%20as%20well.

The Many Economic Benefits of Renewable Energy. (2019, March 12). The many economic

benefits of renewable energy. Renewable Energy Magazine, at the Heart of Clean Energy

Journalism. https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/emily-folk/the-many-economic-

benefits-of-renewable-energy-20190312

Twidell, J. (2022). Renewable energy resources (4th ed.). Routledge.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429452161