However, the way people use these technologies will significantly impact their effectiveness. The four strategies above improve energy efficiency primarily through technology and design. Freightįreight can be moved more efficiently by improving the efficiency of rail and truck transportation and by shifting long-distance freight transport from trucks to rail. Plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles are particularly fuel efficient. This generates fewer emissions, and makes them significantly less expensive to operate. More energy efficient vehicles require less fuel to cover a given distance. Neighborhoods that are designed with mixed use developments and safe, accessible options for walking, biking, and public transportation are key to reducing the need for personal vehicle travel. The smart grid is another system that will improve the efficiency of electric generation, distribution, and consumption. This increases the energy efficiency of power generation from approximately 33 percent to up to 80 percent. Energy Generation and DistributionĬombined heat and power systems capture the "waste" heat from power plants and use it to provide heating, cooling, and/or hot water to nearby buildings and facilities. These may include small steps, such as choosing LED light bulbs and energy efficient appliances, or larger efforts such as upgrading insulation and weatherization. Changes in existing buildings can also be made to reduce energy usage and costs. Buildingsīuilding designers are looking to optimize building efficiency and then incorporate renewable energy technologies, leading to the creation of zero-energy buildings. There are enormous opportunities for efficiency improvements in every sector of the economy, whether it is buildings, transportation, industry, or energy generation. While renewable energy technologies also help accomplish these objectives, improving energy efficiency is the cheapest – and often the most immediate – way to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Energy efficiency brings a variety of benefits: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering our costs on a household and economy-wide level. Environment & Energy Congressional Round-UpĮnergy efficiency simply means using less energy to perform the same task – that is, eliminating energy waste.House and Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses.Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO.National Security and Energy Independence.
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