Feeding the Electricity Habit
June 6, 2011
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Posted by Noël Bilodeau
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In Japan, workers are being encouraged to dress in casual clothing this summer that reduces air conditioner use in offices and helps alleviate energy woes resulting from the nuclear plant shutdown.
In London, a mini electric Hummer has just been spotted that is geared towards the younger more eco-conscious generation. I never thought I’d see the day!
In the US, a new report on California’s energy future cites several ways that the state can meet aggressive emissions targets and also suggests that behavioral changes can affect emissions by as much as 20 percent.
Utility companies are also rolling out smart meters to provide more real-time information that helps consumers make better decisions about their electricity use. For example, these consumers could run dishwashers or recharge batteries at non-peak times when prices are lower, helping to reduce power requirements for utilities during the busy consumption periods of a day.
Which takes me to a point I really want to make - electrical power consumption is going to explode over the next few decades. Think about the various gadgets we now use that run on electricity, many of which didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago. In the future, more of us will be charging our cars like we charge our mobile devices. And what about smart homes or offices, imagine what a massive power outage would be like when we are living in that kind of hyper-connected environment.
On a global scale, the way countries choose to generate all of this electricity will also have a strong impact on the economy, the environment and our quality of life. The good news is that lots of innovation still lies ahead.
These renewable energy solutions may just be some of the best ways to support our growing electricity habit in the future.
Categories:Renewable Energy
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