Environmental science
Problem description
Energy conservation entails the efforts that are being undertaken to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be attained by enhanced, efficient energy use in relation to the minimized energy consumption and or minimum application from the conventional energy sources. The problem associated with this is the global energy crisis that has resulted in strong demand for the rare commodity. There has been great, rise in the global demand for energy in the past few years due to industrial growth and population increase. Supply of energy, thus, is in deficit than the expected amount.
Market breakdown is likely when monopoly influences of market happen. A problem can occur because of the manufacturing action such as union planned strikes and government embargoes. The basis for all problems could be because of over-application, old infrastructure, stifle end disruption, or restrictions at oil processing plants and port equipments, which limit fuel distribution. An emergency could surface when extraordinary cold winters since there is a rise on the consumption of energy. Pipeline interruptions and other minor incidents could also cause inadequacy in the energy distribution. A problem may likely to occur after infrastructures are destroyed by harsh weather conditions. Aggressions by rebels or mercenaries on vital infrastructure are a likely challenge for the energy users, with a striving strike on the Middle East structure possibly resulting to the global scarcity. Political occurrences, for instance, when authorities change because of regime alteration, monarchy disintegration, military invasion, and coup could interrupt oil and gas manufacture resulting to deficiencies (Hon, 2002).
The macroeconomic reasons for the distribution distress-induced energy challenges are extensive since energy is the commodity applied to extract the other resources. When energy trade collapses, an energy deficiency is generated from the collapse. Electricity clients could observe planned engineering progressing blackouts at the time of inadequate energy distribution or unanticipated power outage, despite the causes. Developed countries rely on oil, and attempts to limit the commodity have a prolonged consequence on the economies of oil manufacturers. For the users, the price of natural gas, diesel, and gasoline (petrol) for vehicles increases. An initial reaction from the concern parties is the demand for reports, assessment, and commission into the price of fuels. There are also progressions into the growth of more manageable urban structures that uses more energy sources. In the market, modern advancements and energy shortage approaches become enviable for users looking to minimize transport expenses (Risse, 2007).
Nonliving and living factors that contribute to or are affected by the problem
Nonliving factors, which could be affected by energy usage, include sunlight, temperature, precipitation, water, and soil. Both sunlight and temperature adds to energy usage. Through the application of sunlight and temperature, we may apply some renewable products for supply of light and energy on the side of nonrenewable resources that are presently in use. Water and soil are influenced by sunlight and temperature always.
Living factors, affected by energy usage are animals (herbivores, carnivores, and Omnivores), plants, insects, bacteria, and people. When plants are destroyed by energy usage, this implies that, they are reduced hence; the herbivores will have nothing to feed on. If the herbivores have not gotten enough to eat, they will die of hunger, and the carnivores that usually feed on them will also be affected, and eventually the whole living organisms would be vulnerable to deaths (Risse, 2007).
Positive or negative human impacts
Energy conservation is a fundamental undertaking when taken by everyone as a benefit rather than a loss. We have limited quantities of the energy sources, and we need to preserve this for the future generation to make appropriate use of it. The ones in depletion are mainly the nonrenewable energy sources in the world. It is, therefore, essential that we plan on how to conserve the energy sources. The usage of present sources should be minimized, and the application of renewable sources be emphasized. Energy conservation is also crucial, for the usage of nonrenewable sources can affect the environment. Certainly, human use of fossil fuels sum to the air and water pollution. For instance, carbon dioxide is manufactured when oil, coal, and gas burn in power stations, heating structures, and car engines. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere looks like a transparent cover, which participate in the global warming of the universe, or greenhouse effects. The warming patterns may highly change the weather causing other negative impact such as prolonged period of lack of rains (Hon, 2002).
Too much dependence on nonrenewable energy sources forces human to exploit the available sources to extend that depletion occurs. This has negative consequences on the environment since the natural distribution of resources will be strained as other regions rely on the only available sources. In addition, conservation and restructuring of physical and cultural custom is more striving when related to creative, economic production, and investment. The multipurpose use of the city space can be the fresh incorporated and sustainable conservation plan, which leads to a set of advantageous economies and social gains. However, there are negative impacts also associated with this since the multipurpose use of space means a rise of energy application. Such correction procedures could be beneficial only for the current consumers but illustrates a unique negative impact to the future generation because of pollution, and its harmful impacts on environmental changes (Luigi, 2006).
Other impacts are that the oil reserves are running out, and they will be headed for scarcity in the environment. The process of industrialization needs large amounts of energy to drive the process and develop other sectors. With this precious commodity, industrialization process will be slowed down affecting the world economy. Too much dependency on nonrenewable sources also limits the creativity and innovation of the countries. This will lead to destruction of natural structure that usually maintains the ecological balance. Uncontrolled or poor handling of oil production can also cause damage to aquatic lives. This is a negative human impact since it occurs due to carelessness of producers (Davies et.al, 2006).
Current sustainability strategies and solutions
Despite the energy conservation strategies being an extremely substantial task to handle, the human race combined needs to learn what its implications are and what it can offer to save lives in the entire world. The importance of energy conservation is that it may save domestic and enterprise funds. The universe currently is developed upon speed, power, and demand of energy. Current human way of life operates by using the energy in different areas of their day-today life. This is applied in transportation, electricity, and heat. Energy preservation is the primary operation of reducing the amount of energy usage, which occurs in the daily lives. Tremendous efforts of human and governmental attempts could bring up an extensive decrease of energy costs, alongside making human beings accomplish their targets in several ways.
Energy is one of the commodities that human cannot do without. It enables all the operations to be carried out smoothly. However, the emissions that result from its application can cause serious health complications. Governments around the world, on the other hand, are reluctant to impose rules preventing exploitation of energy sources because the benefit they get from the industrial sector, which is the main consumer of energy, supersedes the losses. Programs have to be implemented to control its consumption and further emphasize made on the development of renewable source to help conserve the nonrenewable sources. The programs look at the topics that energy influences, and attempts to bring the matter to law makers to help in execution of new laws and restrictions in various regions of the world. Currently we have a program referred to as Cash for Clunkers, which was created by the American Federal Government. The key objective of the program is to help American people purchase newer cars, which are energy efficient (Gil, 2009).
On a large scale, people should look at the results of their actions, and identify the harshness they are causing to the environment through energy wastage. Energy conservation starts with individual to reach the sustainability levels. Research also needs to be carried out to identify what adjustments or changes need to be done to minimize energy consumptions. In a way, too much of the energy loss pollutes the environment. There is also need to create education program based on air pollution influences. This way people will learn various benefits as well as different ways on how to conserve the available energy. Finally, individuals need to understand the benefit of using renewable sources. This way, most will change their energy consumption from nonrenewable to renewable sources, and always watch, invest, unplug, and use timers to control the amount of energy needed to their daily activities (Gil, 2009).
Plan to reach sustainability
Before executing the plan, potential leaders who can assist in the program should be selected, and as needed the legal, authorities should be requested to approve the program. Financing should start with the planned strategies. This will then be followed by clear report by arranging presentation and inviting the society members as viewers. Studies should be carried out on both short and long-term influences. The report will encourage the viewers to embrace the renewable sources of energy (Hon, 2002).
Since most of the energy crises are brought about by too much reliance on a single source, people need to be creative and start using other source to preserve the source from depletion and over exploitation. Campaign on introduction of energy-efficient vehicles ought to be promoted to minimize energy consumption. Education is a vital tool to creating awareness and, therefore, need to be strengthened and ensure people get to know the effects both positive and negative and the reason why everyone should look at conserving energy consumption. In addition, the world is being driven by technology. This implies that there are possible technological measures that can be used to achieve the objectives of energy conservation. At the same time, technology can be used to create sustainable approaches of controlling energy consumption (Hon, 2002).
Lastly, since the energy crisis does affect a single nation, there need to be combined efforts on the creation of policies and regulation to protect the energy sources from over exploitation. The laws and rules should focus on industries and ensure they conserve energy. The laws should also protect the sources of nonrenewable energy so that it can be used for long as they plan for other effective sources of energy.
Benefits and challenges of your plan
The benefits of the plan include providing information on various energy sources. This can be used by the local government as well as other partners to develop initiatives of conserving energy worldwide. The plan also had clear recommendations on what needs to be done currently as the concern parties look for various energy sources. This include the use of timers, unplugging unused electricity cables especially on electrical gadgets, and consumption of solar energy as the alternative source of energy (Davies et.al, 2006).
There were no serious challenges facing the plan apart from the extra financial constraints that were incurred. This was because of extensive research on the scope of the energy crisis worldwide. Despite the challenges, the plan had budgeted for those emergencies it enables it to be accomplished.
Required government, societal, and global support
Industrial manufacturers and individual energy consumers have the capacity to conserve energy. The government should be strict on laws implementation and execution to curb the widespread exploitation of energy sources. The industries should be pushed to using their own sources of energy so that the diminishing sources can be utilized by other users. This way the government would be in control and significant reserves will be conserved saving both cost and the environmental effects caused by over-exploitation of the energy sources (Risse, 2007).
The government and the society should combine efforts to protect the environment since most of the effects of the energy crisis have direct and indirect effects to the environment. They can put restrictions to energy usage and campaign for energy-efficient products that can save them from unnecessary wastes.
References:
Davies, R., Orme, D., Olson, V., Gavin, T., Stattersfield, A. et.al. (2006). Human impacts and the
global distribution of extinction risk. The royal society, 273(1598): 2127–2133.
Hon, B. (2002). Design and manufacture for sustainable development: 27-28th June 2002 at the
University of Liverpool, UK. UK: John Wiley & Sons publishers.
Luigi, G. (2006). Innovative strategies for urban heritage conservation, sustainable development,
and renewable energy. Global urban development magazine, 2 (1).
Risse, E. (2007). The Shape of the Future. Retrieved on May 25, 2011, from <
http://www.baconsrebellion.com/Issues07/10-29/Risse.php>
