Duurzame ontwikkeling samenvatting Hoofdstuk 16 – energy efficiency and renewable
energy
16.1 Why is energy efficiency an important energy resource?
Concept 16-1 Improving energy efficiency can save the world at least a third of energy it
uses, and it can save the united states up to 43% of the energy it uses
Energy efficiency: the measure of how much work we can get form each unit of energy we
use
Improving energy efficiency means ‘doing more and better with less energy and money,
but with more brains and technology’
Reducing energy waste
o Prolongs fossil fuel supplies
o Reduces oil imports and improves energy security
o Very high net energy yield
o Low cost
o Reduces pollution and environmental degradation
o Buys time to phase in renewable energy
o Creates local jobs
Devices that waste large amounts of energy:
Incandescent lightbulb uses only 5-10% to produce light, 90-95% is wasted as heat
Internal combustion engine which propels most motor vehicles and wastes about
80% of the energy in its fuel
Nuclear power plant produces energy for heating space or water. It wastes about
75% of the energy and 92% if we include the additional energy used in the nuclear
fuel cycle
Coal-fired power plant wastes about 66% of the energy that is released by burning
coal to produce electricity and 75-80% if we include the energy used to extract en
transport the coal
16.2 How can we cut energy waste?
Concept 16-2 We have a variety of technologies for sharply increasing the energy efficiency
of industrial operations, motor vehicles, appliances, and buildings
Cogeneration using a combined heat and power (CHP) system: two useful forms of
energy are produced form the same fuel source
o For example: produced steam can be used to heat a building nearby instead
of releasing it into the environment (less CO2 emission per energy unit)
Replace energy-wasting electric motors with variable speed motors, which run at the
minimum rate needed for each job, saves energy and reduces the environmental
impact of electric motor use
energy
16.1 Why is energy efficiency an important energy resource?
Concept 16-1 Improving energy efficiency can save the world at least a third of energy it
uses, and it can save the united states up to 43% of the energy it uses
Energy efficiency: the measure of how much work we can get form each unit of energy we
use
Improving energy efficiency means ‘doing more and better with less energy and money,
but with more brains and technology’
Reducing energy waste
o Prolongs fossil fuel supplies
o Reduces oil imports and improves energy security
o Very high net energy yield
o Low cost
o Reduces pollution and environmental degradation
o Buys time to phase in renewable energy
o Creates local jobs
Devices that waste large amounts of energy:
Incandescent lightbulb uses only 5-10% to produce light, 90-95% is wasted as heat
Internal combustion engine which propels most motor vehicles and wastes about
80% of the energy in its fuel
Nuclear power plant produces energy for heating space or water. It wastes about
75% of the energy and 92% if we include the additional energy used in the nuclear
fuel cycle
Coal-fired power plant wastes about 66% of the energy that is released by burning
coal to produce electricity and 75-80% if we include the energy used to extract en
transport the coal
16.2 How can we cut energy waste?
Concept 16-2 We have a variety of technologies for sharply increasing the energy efficiency
of industrial operations, motor vehicles, appliances, and buildings
Cogeneration using a combined heat and power (CHP) system: two useful forms of
energy are produced form the same fuel source
o For example: produced steam can be used to heat a building nearby instead
of releasing it into the environment (less CO2 emission per energy unit)
Replace energy-wasting electric motors with variable speed motors, which run at the
minimum rate needed for each job, saves energy and reduces the environmental
impact of electric motor use
