A Move Towards Solar, What Can You Do?Embassy Phnom Penh is procuring 56 small solar panels and three large solar panels that will recharge the batteries on all generators at residences and the Embassy compound. Right now, the batteries are charged from an outlet. The solar panels will recharge the batteries so all generators will be off city electricity. According to our expert consultant, the panels will pay for themselves in eight months. This switch will save the embassy over $7,000 per year in electrical costs, but will also reduce emissions up to 1,436 lbs of CO2 a year!
Did you know the generation of electric power produces more pollution than any other single industry in the United States? The NRDC’s 2008 Benchmarking Air Emissions Report (most recent 2006 data) shows the U.S. electricity industry was responsiblefor:
70% of sulfur dioxide emissions that contribute to acid rain
20% of nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to urban smog
40% of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global climate change
68% of mercury air emissions that pose significant health risks
Among the other major environmental issues linked to electricity are water impacts, generation of wastes, and the disruption of land uses.
Electricity is also playing an increasingly important role in our personal lives and in the global economy. Electricity powered computer and communication systems are more and more important parts of our lives and our economy. Because we are demanding more electricity service we must avoid increasing the damage to our environment by using electricity efficiently and by obtaining electricity from the cleanest sources available.
U.S. household energy in 2007
The U.S. spends more than $13 billion‐a‐year on energy for home water heating. That is the equivalent of 11.4 barrels of oil per household, more than the amount of oil burned by a medium‐sized automobile driven 12,000 miles.
Water heating accounts for approximately one‐fourth of the total energy used in a typical single-family home. An electric water heater is the single biggest energy user of all appliances in the home.
Computers use between 65 watts and 250 watts. The monitor often needs between 35 watts and 80 watts of electricity as well.
How do we meet our energy needs while addressing pressing environmental impacts linked to our inevitable increase in power consumption? There are various generating technologies that produce electric power. The variety of fuels used to generate electricity all has some impact on the environment. Fossil fuel power plants release air pollution, require large amounts of cooling water, and can mar large tracts of land during the mining process. Nuclear power plants are generating and accumulating copious quantities of radioactive waste that currently lack any repository. Even renewable energy facilities can affect wildlife (fish and birds), involve hazardous wastes, or require cooling water.The environmental consequences of all these technologies vary significantly. While none of these technologies are free from environmental impacts, focusing on personally saving energy may be the best way to affect change.
There are numerous energy saving tips for both work and home:
Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Turn off the lights after you leave a room.
Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.
Take short showers instead of baths.
Solar power panels on the home (Of all of the major types of water heating systems, solar energy systems offer the biggest potential savings to homeowners‐ with owners saving 85 percent on their utility bills over the costs of electric water heating).
Close your drapes and blinds during the night.
Use a clothesline or a laundry rack instead of a dryer.
Keep the fridge clean and well ventilated
The US Embassy in Phnom Penh is on its way to becoming GREENER. What are YOU going to do?
