Wide Wired World

2008 world energy consumption

 The increase of global energy consumption due to increasing demands from all sectors of our society is very alarming. One major factor that affects this problem is the increasing rate of carbon emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels particularly petroleum, coal and gas. However no matter what are our reasons maybe we cannot deny the fact that we cannot live in todays world without doing the same. From the all forms of vehicles that we used everyday for transportation, appliances that we are using to give us aide in doing house chores, and to the industrial machinery used for producing products with high global demands. These are but some of our daily activities that we cannot live without. According to the EIA (Energy Information Administration) based on Washington DC in the year 2008 the total world energy consumption is 143,000 TeraWatthours. Around 81% of these were produced using fossil fuels! In due time scientist predicted the decline of vast reserves of fossil fuels. Even if fossil fuels cannot be depleted the drawback is the accumulation of carbon emissions in the atmosphere which is the responsible for the climate change.

Human knowledge brought this present civilization by which the dependence of modern technology is at par. This dependence is supposed give us convenience, however what we see is an irony since the one that gives us convenience is the same thing that could lead us into chaos. Scientists predicted that the growing rate of carbon emissions will increase the global temperature that could vehemently affect the global climate. The melting of glaciers is one of the evidences that our global temperature is indeed increasing. One of the effects of this is the rapid rate of rising of sea water level that causes floods in some areas and pollutes groundwater supply with sea water making it not suitable for domestic purposes. Other effects not to mention is far or equally worst than the latter such as hurricanes and famine. What are happening today reminds us that we have responsibilities to at least mitigate the worst effect of global warming. Modernization is inevitable so all we have to do is a win-win solution.We know that human knowledge is involve in this dilemna therefore human knowledge can also be use to mitigate it. But it is not a question of "what" but it is a question of attitude and commitment, that is how people can be cooperative can be in order to achieve this goal--- mitigate the effect of global warming.

Currently with the advancement of research and technology we already have invented products and enacted state legislations that could possibly be the solution solve for the problem.
Led Technology
The use LED technology could really help to reduce our energy consumption. The lights in our home, street lights, cars and traffic lights can help to reduce energy consumption. Compare to the conventional lighting with the same capacity LED is 60%-80% more efficient and could last long by 10 to 50 times compare to others. If we analyze deeply buying LED lights while higher in cost but surely will compensate the maintenance and replacement cost compare to the conventional one. But be sure to buy the original LED lights from reputable manufacturers.

In the same vein LED technology is not only limited to lighting equipment but it also have other major products such as LED TV and LED monitor. According to study LED TV and monitor can cut our electricity consumption for as high as 40% compare to LCD TV. However because this is a new breed of technology the setback is a higher price but with the market competition sooner or later prices of this stuff will become affordable.

Automation Systems
The help of modern automation for building management and industrial processes help to achieve an effective energy savings strategies. For building designers they can use advance BMS (Building Management systems) technology by focusing on the automation of building lightings, ventilation, heating and airconditiong systems. This features automatic shut-off to the active state of several equipments such as lighting, air conditioning and heater while the office or hall is not in use. In industrial plants the use of SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) features energy management system that automatically control the optimum use of energy in the process thus wastage can be eliminated. Manufacturers of these equipments is certain of the the return of investment if these equipments will be use. Therefore industrial plants that uses this technology does not only helped in saving the environment but also have augmented the profit margin of the company.

Not only for consuming public but also to the people who are engaged in the the policy and control of the supply of energy particularly the government and the investors. These sectors of the society should develop the untapped renewable energy. State legislators must enact laws how to effectively impose the development of the said renewable energy such as giving tax incentives for those corporations who are interested in investing in renewable energy in their area. In addition the strict imposition of the regulation of equipment manufacturers to comply with the highly efficient products. As early as 1992 the United States have already enacted the Energy Policy Act of 1992 as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to enhance the state energy management policies. Also in the Philippines the Republic Act 8749 also known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 was enacted to reduced air pollution. Furthermore the state must also segregate certain areas to be used as carbon sink where trees are planted to offset the harmful carbon emissions. However these policies must be strictly imposed and should not be remain as a paper in the repository of laws.