Less is More: Save Energy Build Small

The United States consumes about 26% of the world’s energy, and since 1995 it is projected that residential energy consumption will be increasing by 17% until 2015. With this enormous amount of energy consumption, it is essential to build energy-efficient homes, both domestically and abroad. Students from the Society and Technology Capstone classes, taught at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, have come up with innovative plans for designing small, energy efficient homes, using energy conservation methods as well as renewable technology to accomplish their goals.

Renewable energy includes solar energy, wind energy, and hydropower, to name a few. Solar power can be used directly for heating and lighting homes or other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses. Hydropower is the most commonly used form of renewable energy, accounting for six percent of the total U.S. electricity generation and 71 percent of generation from renewable energy in 2007.

There are many small adjustments people can make that will not only save energy and reduce emissions, but also save money. A few ways to conserve energy at home is by making modest changes including using “off the shelf” energy-efficient technologies. By using these technologies, we could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80%.

In addition, replacing just one incandescent light bulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb means 1,000 pounds less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere and $67, per bulb, is saved on energy costs over the bulb’s lifetime. By lowering the thermostat by just two degrees during the winter, you save 6% of heating-related carbon dioxide emissions, which equates to about 420 pounds of CO2 per year, for one home. Even the smallest changes can benefit not just you, but the world. So next time you change a light bulb try using an energy-saving bulb, or think twice about turning up your thermostat.