How energy fits into sustainability

There is a limited number of natural resources and fossil fuels on the earth.  Electricity is generated from both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.  The Environmental Protection Agency differentiates between the two.  Renewable energy sources are constantly restored; they include "wind (wind power), water (hydropower), sun (solar), vegetation (biomass), and internal heat of the earth (geothermal)" [United States EPA].  Nonrenewable energy sources are natural resources that cannot be replenished, and these include oil, gas, and coal.  A majority of 71.5% of electricity in the US is generated from nonrenewable sources [EPA].  Moreover, about 19.5% of electricity in the US is generated by nuclear power plants, which create nuclear waste and therefore are harmful to the environment [EPA].  Most of the electricity in the US is from nonrenewable sources, and because these cannot be restored, we must conserve energy. 

We should conserve energy not only because nonrenewable sources are limited, but also because consumption of these sources contributes to air and water pollution.  Using fossil fuels through power stations, heating systems, and car engines produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.  Another harmful gas created from energy consumption is sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide reacts with water and oxygen to create acid rain, which kills fish and trees and damages many buildings.  Global warming has many potential negative impacts, including deteriorating human health, rising sea levels, and major changes in vegetation growth patterns.  Conserving energy use reduces the consequent environmental impact. 

Recycling reduces energy consumption

The two terms "reusing" and "recycling" are often used interchangeably, but there is an important distinction between the two.  Recycling generally means to re-form something.  For example, recycled paper is washed free of ink and then pulped and squeezed into new sheets.  Plastic is re-formed into other products like carpet fibers, garden furniture, agricultural pipes, garbage bags, clothes pegs, etc.  Metal and glass are melted and remolded.  Re-forming something instead of creating a product from scratch saves energy.  For example, recycling an aluminum can uses only 5% of the energy used to make a new aluminum can.  Recycling not only helps reduce waste, but it also reduces energy consumption.  On another note, reusing is even better than recycling since reusing does not create waste and does not require energy to remold the item.

Read more about recycling.

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What can I do?

How to conserve energy at college:

• Turn off the lights when leaving a room
  
• Turn off your lamp when you are not using it
  
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs (like compact fluorescent light bulbs)
  
• Turn off your TV and shut down your computer
  
• Unplug chargers and power cords
  
• Dry clothes on hangers when it's sunny instead of using the tumble dryer
• Close drapes during winter to keep out cold air

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Sources used for the information presented on this page:

1. California Energy Commission. "Saving Energy." Energy Quest Room. 12 Oct. 2006. 29 May 2009 <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/index.html>.
   
2. Goldsmith, Sheherazade. A Slice of Organic Life. New York : Dk Publishing, 2007.
3. United States Environmental Protection Agency. "Energy Conservation." United States Environmental Protection Agency. 29 May 2009 <http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:bnpYgcjpVyAJ:www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/p2pages/energy.pdf+why+is+conserving+energy+important&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a>.