I just came back from one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Dubai, and as one of my professors clearly pointed out, “it’s a city on steroids”. On my way to the top of the tallest buildings in the world, Burg Khalifa, his words seemed more vivid than ever before. Not even twenty years ago, this city of glitz and glamour was non existent, but merely a horizon of Arabian desert. Now I know that you guys are probably thinking what does this have to do with energy, but on the contrary, when reading the article , “When it Comes To Our Carbon Footprint, Only Two Things Really Matter: Buildings and Cars” made me think of my recent vacation to the Middle East. Look at the title! “Buildings and Cars”, that is exactly what Dubai has become! Besides the fact that Dubai is still under heavy construction meaning that they are still adding more skyscrapers to their already massive skyline, their highways are also quite impressive.
While transferring trains at the metro station, I stopped and looked out the window facing the free way. I counted not the typical four lanes but eight lanes! On the first night that we spent in Dubai, we got the opportunity to go on one of those cheesy bus tours. Besides the corny jokes from our tour guide, I got a lot of insight on the city itself. I remember our tour guide saying, “There is always traffic in Dubai”. All I could think to myself, when hearing him say that, was no kidding, Sherlock. There were so many advertisements for cars and in addition to that, there were a lot more dealerships all by each other. To get to my point, the two main observations when you see Dubai are fancy buildings and even fancier cars, which ties into the purpose of this article of “our carbon footprint”.
The article talks about the carbon footprint caused by the two components of cars and construction of buildings in the US, however, let’s not forget that this problem is not only in the US but in other places in the world. I am mentioning Dubai because I just came back from there but it is also happening in China, India, and Europe as well. The article points out that in the US, “60% of American greenhouse gases come from buildings and getting those buildings”. That makes me think that I live in one of the largest cities in the US, Chicago and Dubai I would estimate as being bigger than twice this city. I can only imagine the damage that is happening all around the world in other cities. Later on in the article, it mentions that, “Close to 70% of our greenhouse gas production comes from driving…” Again coming from the bustling city of Chicago, where there always seems to be traffic on Lake Shore Drive, and comparing it to the “city on steroids” that is Dubai, makes me wonder if competition is the pure driver as to why people disregard the effects of glamorous city which consists of “buildings and cars.”
December 23, 2011
A Reflection on Energy Consumption in Dubai
December 6, 2011
Stay Warm without Turning the Heat On
When winter comes, that’s when people start thinking about those annoying heating bills. I have two roommates living in apartment downtown Chicago and when we first saw our electric/gas bill, we were shocked to see that it was a whopping $200.00?! I am not even home half the time and to see this result was shocking and hurting. Have you ever had that experience? I was curious to see how we could cut down our costs or find a different way to warm our place up by the time that we are home and not so that it digs into our wallets. I was interested to see that I found a video with this very experience!
The video is a comical experiment introducing the idea to “heat the person, not the house”. At the beginning of the video, the narrator conducting the experiment shows a young lady in a room ….make sure to watch the big thermometer in the corner, because as you watch the video, you realize that its only around 50° degrees Fahrenheit in that room! BRRR….that’s cold! The experiment is thirty minutes. No heater is on and the only devices that are projecting heat is the mouse, keyboard, dog bed, and the light above her head. After ten minutes from being in the room with the turned on devices. She says she feels comfortable.
From the video, we learn that from those four devices, a person can become comfortable without turning on the heat! Which can save (based on this experiment) up to eighty-seven percent of energy. How awesome is that? Even a space heater which may seem more convenient to make your room nice and toasty can be a money guzzler. In fact, a space heater uses between 800 to 1500 watts as opposed to using those four devices which is only wasting 80 watts. That’s a huge difference, isn’t it?!
So the next time that you’re spending a night in, on a chilly fall or early winter night, I know that I’ll be in my snuggie with my side table by me and my lamp with a fluorescent light bulb, and a heated dog bed to warm my feet instead of those energy consuming space heaters and save me some money for some extra holiday shopping for myself.
For more information, check out this website: Heat the Person Not the House
November 22, 2011
7 Holiday Energy Saving Tips
Now that the holidays are coming our way, I found a great article t that suggests great energy saving tips that can help skim around some of those extra holiday expenses. I picked my top seven favorite!
1. No Need to Pre-heat: So, while cooking for your holiday dinner, keep in mind that while cooking a turkey, or your big holiday ham that you don’t have to pre-heat. Why? Because it is a slow cooking process, so you can skip the pre-heat and get to cooking.
2. No Peaking: I know it’s hard to go and take a peak at the turkey or ham, especially when you are hungry, but if there really is no need for it, don’t’ do it! Just opening that over door can lower the heat in your oven and prolong the cooking time.
3. Use Your Microwave!: Using your microwave uses up to 40% less than your oven or stove. So instead of bearing your stove to steam some veggies, do it in your microwave.
4. Use Ceramic and glass pans: You can reduce the heat if you use the ceramic and glass pans! I assure you that your meal will cook just as evenly and with the same amount of cooking time.
5. Use your dishwasher: If you have a dishwasher, use it! Only in full amounts though. A dishwasher uses 37% less than washing dishes by hand. But if you don’t have a dishwasher, be sure to not let the hot water running for long periods of time.
6. Switch to new bulbs: So, those old holiday lights that you have been using for like 5 years now, don’t you think it’s time for a new set of lights? New technology equals more efficient. Newer lights are really more efficient. If you want to go the extra mile, ask your lighting supplier about LED holiday bulbs. They can also be found on the internet, so browse around.
7. Edible Ornaments!: This one is my favorite! Instead of lights decorate your tree with edible ornaments such as little gingerbread men.
So if you are looking to save or you’re just really excited for green energy, consider one or two of these seven holiday energy saving tips! And Remember, Save Wave Energy wishes everyone a Happy Holiday!
November 11, 2011
Slow Energy Efficiency in the American Market
Okay, so this goes along with my previous blog about American energy consumption going to the dumps. In fact, this article argues the very fact that even though we have technology to save energy, be eco friendly, and save money, Americans are not reacting. A survey done by the Shelton Group, analyzed the energy efficiency progress from around 1500 U.S . residents. The steps include installing high efficiency windows, installing extra insulations, upgrading their heating or cooling and installing high- efficiency water heaters. The survey revealed that about 42 percent of people surveyed have installed high efficiency windows, 39 percent have installed extra insulation, 37 percent have upgraded their heating or cooling system, and about 24 percent have installed high-efficiency water heaters. I’m going to be positive and say that these are actually a pretty high number considering that these percentages indicate that almost half of the people surveyed have upgraded their energy efficiency. Let’s be honest, these are not cheap upgrades to undertake.
There is also the notion that maybe Americans truly believe that they ARE in fact great energy savers because they have made these minor additions or upgrades to their homes. Are Americans even aware that they really are not notable energy savers? Do they know how much they are saving because of these upgrades? Probably not. The article reveals that ONLY 15 percent of homeowners have gotten an energy audit done. 33 percent of homeowners THINK they need one, and around half of people surveyed say they are LIKELY to get one. I don’t know about the ‘Likely’ statistic. That number seems alittle high. I’d be surprised if half of the homeowners in the U.S. have even considered an energy audit for their home.
I am playing devil’s advocate and am saying that even though the survey has provided a rather good analysis on how inefficient Americans are. The survey does not analyze the other sources of energy that we are most known for using such as gasoline. The survey also does not reveal how aware Americans are in regards to their energy use. Have Americans been driving less than previous years or taking different modes of transportation? What about refrigeration, and lighting? Being in a such a big city, as Chicago, we thrive from living the night life, have we switched to energy efficient lighting? According to the article, it would take households making more than $100,000 a year a $113 increase in their energy bill to cause them to invest in efficiency efforts. For households making under $25,000 a year, the monthly increase would be $120 in their bills. People with graduate degrees would have to see a $98 dollar increase in their monthly bills. Lastly, people with a high school graduation or less would have to see a $122 increase in their monthly bills to seek changes in their household efficiency. Why are households who are either the least educated or making the least amount of money willing to wait until they see a higher increase as opposed to those who are the most educated or the ones that are making the most amount of money? I feel that it is because they are not aware of how much energy efficiency can really save them. At SaveWave Energy we want to educate people about these issues and potentially help them save, learn, be efficient on energy.
November 10, 2011
Average American’s Annual Energy Consumption
“‘Green’ is the new black.” I’ve heard this phrase before and it seems to be appearing everywhere in the news. Companies are now using the term of being “green” as a gimmick to look more attractive to consumers. Small businesses and even schools are becoming ‘green’. We can even be ‘green’ in our own homes. I’d like to think as myself as a pretty responsible citizen and yes, I DO recycle. However, do you know that the U.S. energy consumption per-capita is 98,418 kiloWatt hours per year in comparison to only 21,213 kiloWatt hours used around the world per year? How is that even possible? Recycling is one thing, but when I think of how much I drive back and forth from the suburbs to downtown because it is more comfortable, its insane to think that I have to go fill up my energy efficient Toyota Corolla twice a week! The average American drives 12,000 miles per year and uses 441 gallons of automobile gasoline. Sounds like a lot doesn’t it? Americans are known to have the luxury of being able to buy a car, and be able to use a car as our main system of transportation when the rest of the world relies on public transportation, bikes and the use of their own legs.
In reality the average American disperses more than half of those 98,000 or so kiloWatts hours per year in our very own homes. This includes air conditioning, water heating, space heating, refrigeration, and lighting/appliances. For me this includes, the ten minutes that I leave the water running in the shower to let the water warm up plus the additional twenty minutes I use in the shower, the countless times I leave my hair appliances on carelessly in the morning as I brush my teeth, get ready, and eat breakfast BEFORE I even get to do my hair! That’s more than half an hour on energy wasted. Side note: this may not apply to the boys. Let’s not forget the numerous times I crank up the heat and then forget to change it back when I leave the house. Keep in mind that I only go to my house to sleep. Does this routine sound familiar? If it does, then it’s easy to say that we as Americans are not as energy savvy as we thought.
The U.S. is known to have the best of the best, yet we are not investing enough to reduce the amount of energy we use. As of now, we only use 3.7 percent of solar, wind, and geothermal energy efficient energy combined and 6 percent of hydroelectric energy compared to the 48 percent of coal and natural gas which is inefficient. Surprisingly enough we use 1 percent of oil. Because of awareness of these statistics, we reduce the use of energy by doing as little as taking public transportation, turning off and unplugging appliances or turning off the heat as much as you can when you are not at home. (Merely turning off an appliance does not always mean that it does not eat up energy) Changing to energy efficient items is also advised such as using CFL bulbs. At Save Wave Energy, we encourage everyone to go green. Our suppliers use energy efficient power to help our customers go green and cut down on those electricity bills too!
Sources: VisualEconomics.com
November 3, 2011
State Energy Rankings – Where does your state rank?
Illinois Ranks 17th the most Energy Efficient State
California ended its 5 year run as the countries most energy-efficient state, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economoy (ACEEE). The ACEEE’s Scorecard rated Massachusetts first with 45.5 out of a maximum 50 points and California second with 44 points, followed by New York with 38. Energy efficiency has maintained a priority for states despite budget cuts and a bleak economy, according to ACEEE officials.
Illinois ranks in the Top 20 for energy efficiency at spot #17. Also, Illinois was the second most improved state since the last ACEEE scorecard in 2010. Illinois moved up 8 spots from the 2010 scorecard. The most improved state was Maryland.
Energy efficiency has continued to build momentum despite the sluggish economy. Officials are increasingly reconizing that energy efficiceny is the cheapest and quickest way to obtain long term savings. Fully harnessing America’s untapped, abudant energy efficiency resources will save consumers and businesses money, as well as, allow techonological innovation and new business opportunities that create and sustain jobs.
Overall, States continue to provide leadership in forging an energy-efficient economy, reducing costs, spuring job growth and benefiting the environment.
May 15, 2009
How Save Wave Energy Can Cut Your Energy Costs by Thousands in Illinois
Save Wave Energy can drastically help your business in Illinois by helping you save significant sums of money on your energy costs because Save Wave Energy, LLC. is far from an everyday energy supply firm.
At Save Wave Energy we have created the most complete and dependable platform upon which end users can exercise the power of choice to save money when meeting all of their energy demands. Save Wave Energy, LLC. is a firm that can come into your business tomorrow and deliver a detailed energy efficiency and cost plan that will save you thousands on energy costs A MONTH. (more…)
May 8, 2009
Greenraising: A new idea for school fundraising
Just about every parent in America understands what it’s like to have their child bring home a box of candy bars or a lot of raffle tickets that need to be sold in order to help raise money for their school. (more…)
Energy Efficiency: America’s Forgotten Energy Resource
There was a great Time article recently about energy efficiency. The article mentions that it is the great untapped energy resource of this country, which might sound trite or fantasaical, but it’s true. Energy efficiency is basically defined as using less energy input for a given output. That is to say, energy efficiency is most fundamentally about using less energy to heat your home, power your factory or run your microwave. (more…)
April 17, 2009
Rightcycling – SaveWaveEnergy.com Has Invented a New Concept for a New Age
SaveWaveEnergy.com would like to introduce a new concept to the world, called “Rightcycling.”
Rightcycling is most fundamentally about bringing a novel and contemporary approach to bear on ideating about the positive effects the green ethic has on our planet and our economy. Notionally, the term is to be thought of as kind of an amalgam of some common precepts. This is the essence of innovation, seeing old things in new ways and thinking of the past as prologue to a bright and wonderful future. (more…)
Older Posts »
