Transcript 16-2 How can we cut energy waste

Mike Bertram and John Xu
Growing interest in developing modern, superefficient, ultralight, and
ultrastrong cars that could get up to 300 miles per gallon using existing
technology
One of these vehicles is the energy-efficient, gasoline–electric hybrid car
The next step will probably be the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle —a
hybrid with a second and more powerful battery that can be plugged
into an electrical outlet and recharged
China is mass producing the BYD car (a plug-in hybrid) and GM is
competing with the Volt.
Reva is a successful plug-in hybrid from India.
The key is to develop a durable, dependable, safe, and
affordable battery
Another important factor will be to have a network of recharging
stations in many convenient locations within and between
communities and in home garages.
Another option is an energy-efficient diesel car, which accounts for
45% of new passenger car sales in Europe.
Running these vehicles on a fuel called biodiesel, discussed later in
this chapter, would reduce their air pollution emissions and
increase energy efficiency
An electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell may be the next stage in
the development of superefficient cars. Fuel cells are at least
twice as efficient as internal combustion engines, have no moving
parts, require little maintenance, and use hydrogen gas as fuel to
produce electricity.
The fuel efficiency for all types of cars could nearly double if
car bodies were to be made of ultralight and
ultrastrong composite materials such as fiberglass and the
carbon-fiber composites
Better architecture and energy savings in buildings could save
30–40% of the energy used globally
Green architecture, based on energy-efficient and money-saving
designs, makes use of natural lighting, passive solar heating, solar
cells, solar hot water heaters, recycled wastewater, and energyefficient appliances and lighting.
Some also use living roofs, or green roofs, covered with soil and
vegetation. Others use white or light-colored roofs that help
reduce cooling costs by reflecting incoming solar radiation
especially in hotter climates—a strategy for working with nature
that people have used for centuries.
Superinsulation is very important in energy-efficient design. A
house can be so heavily insulated and airtight that heat from
direct sunlight, appliances, and human bodies can warm it with
little or no need for a backup heating system, even in extremely
cold climates
A good first step is to have an expert make an energy survey of
a house or building.
Insulate the building and plug leaks – one of the cheapest ways to
make a building more energy efficient
Use energy-efficient windows – reduce heating loss and cooling costs
Stop other heating and cooling losses – seal duct joints, use living
roofs
City Hall in Chicago, Illinois has a green or living roof —an important part of the
city's efforts to become a more sustainable green city. Such a roof can save
energy used to heat and cool the building.
This thermogram, or infrared photo, shows heat losses (red, white, and orange) around
the windows, doors, roofs, and foundations of houses and stores in Plymouth, Michigan.
Heat houses more efficiently - Superinsulation, a geothermal heat
pump, passive solar heating, a high-efficiency, conventional heat
pump, small, cogenerating microturbines fueled by natural gas,
and a high-efficiency natural gas furnace
Heat water more efficiently - roof-mounted solar hot water heater
or tankless instant water heater
Use energy-efficient appliances - reduce energy use and save
money
Use energy-efficient lighting - Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs
(CFL’s) can produce light of the same brightness and quality as
that of incandescent bulbs. CFL’s are four times more efficient and
last up to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.