The Concept
Those of you new to The Resource Miser are probably wondering what "radical resource & energy efficiency" is and why is it needed to build a sustainable future.
In 2007, Alexander Jung wrote article entitled Why Conservation is the World's Best Energy Source. In it, he writes "With humanity wasting massive amounts of oil, gas and coal to heat buildings, power industry and fuel vehicles, the potential for conservation efforts is vast."
Two-thirds of all energy used worldwide is wasted before it even reaches the end user, disappearing during transmission due to poor insulation, leaky pipes and the like. "Even supposedly fine-tuned products such as automobiles are horrendously inefficient. Around 70 to 80 percent of the power created by the motor does not end up being used for the car’s main purpose: moving forward. Instead the energy heats up the radiator fluid or is blown out the muffler as hot air."
With the world, and especially huge developing countries like China and India, using more and more energy, mostly in the form of finite fossil fuels, it is becoming more difficult, and expensive, to supply the needed energy. However, "one reliable source of energy is not even close to being depleted: Simply saving it may be the safest and cleanest option mankind has. It also happens to make a tidy profit."
"Without much effort, the almost 500 million citizens of the European Union could reduce their energy use by one-fifth, studies have found. That would add up to savings of roughly €60 billion ($79 billion) per year. Such huge sums become less abstract when broken down to household level: An average family could save from €200 to €1,000 by using their energy more efficiently." -- Alexander Jung
My own experience confirms this assessment. With a moderate amount of effort and expense, I was able to reduce my household energy usage not by Jung's 20% "without much effort" estimate, but by a whopping 60%. That equals an actual savings of a couple of thousand dollars a year, in addition to hundreds of dollars in savings in the form of tax deductions for some of the work done on my house to a achieve the reduction.
Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues in favor of what he refers to as "radical resource efficiency" and points out that saving energy costs less than buying it. Radical resource efficiency is just what it sounds like - the act of achieving maximum efficiency in the use of resources, such as energy. This includes using energy efficient technology as well as designing and planning homes, businesses, communities and lifestyles in such a way as to achieve maximum efficiency.
"Saving energy costs less than buying it." -- Amory Lovins
Not only does resource and energy efficiency make sense in terms of building a more sustainable future, but it makes sense from an economic point of view. Radical resource and energy efficiency will help businesses improve their bottom line and families make ends meet. The Resource Miser provides information, tips, projects, resources and encouragement to do so. An index of past issues can be found by clicking here.
Oil and Gasoline Prices
If you have filled up your car's tank lately, you have noticed that the price of gasoline at the pump is up sharply over what it was earlier this year. As I write this, a quick check on the Internet shows me that oil is trading at just over $68 a barrel and the national average for gasoline in the United States is $2.59 a gallon. Earlier this year oil was less than $40/barrel and gasoline less than $2/gallon.
There are two reasons for this increase in gasoline prices in the USA. First, historically the summer months are always the highest in terms of gasoline prices. People are driving more with the vacation season and schools being closed, so companies find excuses to raise the cost of gasoline during peak use.
Second, the speculators have returned to the markets, seeking oil, gas and other commodities as a hedge against future inflation on concerns over the escalating national debt in the USA and other countries, as well as currency declines caused by the massive printing of money that the US Treasury is undertaking.
(By the way, production declines due to peak oil will cause significant increases in price over the long term, well beyond what we are currently experiencing. The current increase is not due to peak oil, but those increases are coming. I will discuss peak oil in future issues of The Resource Miser.)
The best way to mitigate the current increase in prices is to simply use less gasoline. Check out Three Ways to Save Big on Gasoline, which is the ultimate guide to saving gasoline.
In the News...
President Obama recently announced an increase in CAFE standards (to 35.5 mpg by 2016), the first such increase in decades. Those opposed to the increase immediately started beating the drums that "smaller cars are less safe." However, that isn't necessarily so.
The Rocky Mountain Institute, which has done intensive studies of these issues, recently put out a press release on this subject. Here is part of what they had to say:
"Sure, based purely upon a typical vehicle's design, geometry, and occupant position, we agree that larger—but not necessarily heavier—vehicles can offer considerable safety advantages to passengers within. But left out of this quickly developing story is engineering design.
Recent research by Rocky Mountain Institute indicates that an ultralight vehicle that is large and better designed can have crash safety comparable to, or better than, that of a similarly sized heavy vehicle. The platform of a light and large vehicle relies on stronger, lighter materials. Designing for passive safety on par with current NHTSA five-star ratings demands not only using lightweight materials, but also new vehicle geometries and components that can act as energy-absorbing crumple zones. Indeed, a lighter vehicle can achieve the performance of a conventionally designed vehicle, but because it can do so with a smaller engine, there is more room in the engine compartment for crush space and, ultimately, a better crumple zone design. Furthermore, automobile manufacturers are beginning to incorporate advanced active safety features, such as side curtain airbags, and collision prevention systems, such as Volvo's "City Safety."
The full press release can be read by clicking here.
Project: Getting Everyone Involved
My nephew, on summer break from college, has been staying with me for the past several weeks. It is a stark reminder of how even the most energy-efficient designs can fail to save energy if everyone is not on board with the idea. My efforts to make my home energy efficient crumple before the onslaught of a 19-year-old who cannot or will not remember to turn off the lights, TV or radio when he leaves a room, who leaves his cell phone charger plugged in at all times, and who takes two twenty-minute showers a day.
As you make improvements in the energy efficiency of your home, make sure everyone in your family is on board with the goal of reducing energy consumption. Have a special family meeting where you talk to everyone about the importance of using less energy, water and other resources. Explain to them the energy crisis, the environmental issues and the economic reasons for doing so. Go over the rules such as turning off lights and unplugging chargers when not in use. Insist they follow them.
If you have teenagers, it may take several such meetings for the message to sink in. But if your efforts are to work, you need the cooperation of everyone in your household.
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