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Comprising only 5% of the global population, Americans consume 25% of the earth's energy.
Every American consumes over 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity, nearly 10 times the average of the rest of the world (statistics from the Rocky Mountain Institute).
It’s often easy to forget that our energy resources are not limitless. Electricity flows from our outlets, gasoline pumps effortlessly into our cars and the world around us hums and purrs mechanically as we push a button or turn a key. But our complacency with a steady stream of energy and fuel is an illusion, rendered slightly more apparent by the massive power grid failure in the northeast last August. Subsequent discussion should have focused on how cutting our needs for energy would reduce the load on the grid to help prevent future collapse. Being a responsible consumer includes healthy and mindful attitudes towards energy consumption.
One simple way you can reduce your electricity consumption, in addition to dousing the juice, is to switch from regular light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used. It may be achieved through efficient energy use, in which case energy use is decreased while achieving a similar outcome, or by reduced consumption of energy services. Energy conservation may result in increase of financial capital, environmental value, national security, personal security, and human comfort. Individuals and organizations that are direct consumers of energy may want to conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote economic security. Industrial and commercial users may want to increase efficiency and thus maximize profit.
Renewable resources include:
Water
Oxygen
Timber
Fruit and vegetables
Meat from animals
Fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas
Minerals like copper
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
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