“On” Is Not “Off”: Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Are Not the Same
Submitted by: Paul Grover, President, Kilawatt Technologies, Inc.; Paul D. Spiegel, P.E., President, Practical Energy Solutions
When discussing solutions to our energy problems, most people use the terms “efficiency” and “conservation” interchangeably. When we understand how they are different, solutions to our energy and environmental problems become much clearer and can have greater impact.
Engineers originally created the term “efficiency” to quantify machine performance. Efficiency is “the ratio of (useable) energy developed by a machine to the energy supplied it, usually described as a percentage.” If we put 100 units of electricity into a motor get back 60 units of motor energy to use, that motor has an efficiency of 60%.
Energy efficient equipment must be on to produce savings and the longer it’s on, the more we “save.” If we buy a Prius hybrid, we are driving a high efficiency vehicle. The more we drive, the more we “save”, with no thought to how many miles we drive in a year. But who is more environmentally responsible, the Prius owner who drives 40,000 miles a year or the person who conservatively drives a less efficient car only 10,000 miles a year? Using efficient products or machines seems to give us license to use them with little consideration of how much we use them.
Energy conservation is quite different from energy efficiency. We “conserve” by optimizing the operation of equipment so that is runs only when needed. The goal of energy conservation is to minimize resource use and eliminate waste. While efficiency strives for more energy “bang for the buck” when equipment is on, conservation delivers even greater benefits when that same equipment is off. For example, after we turn on a light, our concern is how efficient the bulb is. When we turn that light off, we conserve electricity whether the bulb is energy efficient or not.
If energy efficiency is our only concern and we do not practice conservation, lights can be on night and day and, and as long as the bulbs are energy efficient, we are using electricity efficiently. Again, the longer we burn our energy efficient bulbs, the more we “save.” Efficiency without conservation can waste a lot of electricity. Of course we need both conservation and efficiency, but which comes first?
Energy efficiency may enable consumers to get “more” from the energy they use, but without conservation, resource use increases. For example, our cars are more fuel efficient (more MPG), yet we drive more miles per vehicle, burning more gas every year. It’s like buying low-fat potato chips to “save” calories and then eating three bags.
While nothing is better than “off”, turning things off can be surprisingly difficult. In our business, for example, large commercial buildings are controlled by computerized energy management systems. The more complex these energy management systems become, the less facilities and maintenance personnel can understand them and know how to control them. It takes considerable instrumentation and skill to analyze what’s on, if it’s running optimally, when it needs to be on and how to safely turn it off when not needed. When engaging in conservation efforts, some of our already energy-efficient clients reduce their electricity use and resultant greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, yielding paybacks of a few months. Such savings demonstrate just how much electricity we waste and how cost-effective it is to stop this waste. This is good news for our environment, the changing climate, our health, and it decreases our dependence on foreign energy resources.
So, the next time you see efficiency and conservation in the same sentence, remember that they are not the same and that they produce very different results. “On” is not “off” and using electricity more efficiently does not mean you are using less. We can save energy using both conservation and efficiency techniques, but our efficiency efforts will be undermined unless we practice “Conservation First.”
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Submitted by: Peter N. Rice
I love coffee and I know I am not alone. Since most people do like coffee, I have decided to use this information to share a positive attitude. One of my philosophies in life and in work is to “be a kind resource without expectation.” When I am out and about purchasing coffee for myself, I exercise my philosophy by looking for an opportunity to buy a cup of coffee for a total stranger.
This has not been as easy as it might seem. In today’s world people have become skeptical and suspicious. The men I attempt to buy for don’t allow their egos to accept a gift from a strange man. The women interpret my gesture as if I was trying to “hit” on them or that I have an ulterior motive. This gives cause even further to pass on a positive feeling without expectation in hopes that the chain will not be broken and the feeling passed onto someone else.
After a while, I have fine tuned this exercise by giving the cashier a few extra dollars for the next person in line after I have made my purchase. This eliminates the opportunity for objection.
There is a lesson here for approaching networking. Everyone who is in business would agree networking is essential. Very few of us would admit that it is a favorite pastime. How many times have you been at a networking event where the person you are speaking to is looking through you? The individual has sized you up, decided you have nothing to offer, and is looking to move on to the next “victim”.
Taking the concept of buying coffee for someone and applying this to networking will lend a different perspective to the process. Who doesn’t like to do something nice for someone? It’s the basic premise of gift giving and it makes us feel good!
I was exposed to a simple concept a few months ago in a book by Bob Littel titled, “The Heart and Art of Netweaving”. When meeting someone in a networking environment, think of ways you can help this person. It’s a novel idea, right? It’s the Golden Rule.
By giving a referral to the person with whom you are networking, (Netweaving) you are investing in a future referral of your own. The recipient is going to respond by returning the favor, of course. Take it one step further. Offer to make the introduction personally. Now, you really have made yourself valuable to this person. Think they’ll want to help you? You bet!
My attempts at being positive and sharing the enjoyment of a simple cup of coffee led me to think about something else – the element of surprise in sales and customer service. How can we make sure our customers get the same feeling when ever they interact with our businesses? How can we all “be a kind resource to our customers without expectation?” Stay tuned.
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