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Header image of Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA (photo by Hailey Gilman, '22).
Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Randolph College's Environmental Studies and Science Department has identified the city of Lynchburg as an area at heat risk. Thus, techniques and suggestions for both citizens and the managers of the city of Lynchburg have been compiled for public consumption. On the present page, we will review proposed ideas to improve the city of Lynchburg's energy use and efficiency.
What Can YOU Do?
What Can YOU Do?
Here are a few tips on how you and your family can improve your home's energy efficiency and even lower your monthly energy bill.
A variety of energy efficiency tips are available at a range of prices. The cheapest things you can do now are: unplugging your electronics, making sure your taps are fully off, closing your windows, or turning off unused lights. The more expensive things you can do in the future are: installing more energy efficient windows, updating your home's insulation, or purchasing solar panels and placing them in high-sunlight areas.
Even doing one or two of the suggested tips can go a long way in improving your home's energy efficiency.
What can Lynchburg Do?
What can Lynchburg Do?
As a city, Lynchburg is responsible for upholding an environment that is both healthy and efficient for its citizens.
Options such as cool pavement and cool roofing use materials that are less energy absorbent than current roads and roofs, making these “cool” structures less likely to heat up in the sun. Cool roofing and pavement are more energy efficient because they allow energy to reflect and go back into the atmosphere, instead of being absorbed and causing a temperature increase like they do now.
For these options, the community would have to agree on a strategy for paying for these benefits, such as a new tax incentive. Having energy efficient and sustainable structures in Lynchburg would benefit all citizens, especially those who frequent areas affected by heat islands.
How can improving energy efficiency reduce heat risk?
How can improving energy efficiency reduce heat risk?
Now that you know some ways you and your city can improve your energy efficiency, now let's cover how doing the above energy efficiency strategies can reduce heat risk.
(Placeholder for the CAPA heat risk map of Lynchburg) ^^^
Improved City Health
Improved City Health
The lowering of overall temperatures in the Lynchburg area can lead to fewer instances of heat-related occupational hazards or illnesses (e.g. heat stroke, heat stress, heat cramps, and heat rash).
Less electricity being used means lesser amounts of greenhouse gases being put into the atmosphere. This can result in cleaner and improved air quality for everyone.
Reduced Resource Usage
Reduced Resource Usage
By using less energy, we use less natural resources to fuel our energy usage habits. These natural resources, such as trees, are both beautiful and ecologically important aspects of the environment, and preserving them for future generations to enjoy is vital.
Water is another natural resource used to power electricity plants. The more energy is used, the more water is needed to fuel electricity plants. In this process, water can be polluted and removed from important ecological processes we rely on for drinking and recreational activities. The less energy used means more of the water we rely on is kept clean and preserved.
Extra Resources
Extra Resources
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