Reducing Energy Comsumption

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by hot, Oct 4, 2007.

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  1. hot

    hot Newbie

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    Alright, I have a paper that's due in about a month or two. I still plenty of time to research and all that, but basically I need to find three courses of action that the US government could take to reduce overall energy consumption. I have some basic ideas, but any new ones would be of great help.

    If anyone has any suggestions on books or websites that may help, I'd be grateful. Any general ideas would also be appreciated.

    I have already looked at (and bookmarked!) the energy department's official website, by the way.
     
  2. the_skip

    the_skip Level IV

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    Get this month's issue of national geogrpahic, an inconvienet truth then go from there
    BTW good work for not procastinating
     
  3. Commy

    Commy Moderator
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    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/clima ... ex_1.shtml
    Here's a realistic game where you run your own country, which basically let's you choose a lot of options to hopefully reduce greenhouse emissions.
    There are a few options there that reduce energy consumption. It might be helpful
    Pretty interesting too
     
  4. fanatical

    fanatical Level I

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    Not sure what the US gov't currently has in place, but in Canada, the fedral Gov't has 'ecoEnergy' Grants program running. Also the Prov. Gov't is now offering the same, so the grants have doubled. It is really encouraging homeowners and businesses to retrofit the home/buildings. The program has been very succesful. you can find info here : http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/corporate/re ... ummary.cfm

    Also our Provincial Gov't is considering banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs in the province. may seem like a small thing, but I'm sure the energy savings would be huge !

    hope that helps
     
  5. hot

    hot Newbie

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    Wow, what a great response! Thanks guys, I'll look over and probably include some of them in my paper.
     
  6. orangeman878

    orangeman878 Level I

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  7. Phee

    Phee Moderator
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    Google EnergyStar, if you're from the US.

    Here's some other ideas..

    -hybrid cars is of course a big one
    -solar power and solar panels- on houses, for cars, lights, lamps, etc.
    -wind power (there is enough wind in the world that, if harnessed, could supply power to the entire world five times over: http://www.wired.com/science/planeteart ... 5/05/67600)
    -making things with x% recycled material (books, furniture, etc.)
    -using bamboo for wood (it can grow 4 inches a day and will keep growing if cut down)


    There's loads of stuff out there. :)
     
  8. driftyx

    driftyx Level I

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    lol you should write a report about how you can create heat using a fundamental renewable source, Methane gas. :).. Could provide you with heat and such. No more electricity. Just eat and produce you own power. ;D
     
  9. soccermadness90

    soccermadness90 Level III

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  10. Phee

    Phee Moderator
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    Many schools no longer accept wikipedia as a valid source, although I think it is very dependable. I have never once obtained false information from wikipedia.
     
  11. blake0_0

    blake0_0 Newbie

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    i agree...wikipedia has given me lots of information..and then one of my teachers said they give false info...so i asked her to show me something on wiki what was false...and she couldnt find anything.....in front of the whole class...i bet she was embarrased
     
  12. soccermadness90

    soccermadness90 Level III

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    sigh i just got into problems using wiki as a source. My teacher is unhappy with it. :|
     
  13. Rayko

    Rayko Newbie

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  14. K1TT3N

    K1TT3N Level I

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    There was a TV commercial called Flick Off.. turn off your lights when not in use.
     
  15. rapidah

    rapidah Level III

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    most teachers don't allow wikipedia now because anyone can edit it
    it would be hard for teachers to prove it because someone may have edited a certain page a few hours before you used it, but after you used it someone else could have edited it back to before
     
  16. soccermadness90

    soccermadness90 Level III

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    i guess that is the problem of an open source. It has much information on it because anyone can contribute to it. But with that comes along the problem of accuracy.

    If it is a closed source the information would probably be accurate. But then there would be less information on it. I guess a balance of both is good. The open source would be good for giving general ideas of the issue at hand.
     
  17. kittysac

    kittysac Level I

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    I agree with many of the others, Wikipedia is good, go there. they have what you'll need. ^^
     
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