Power Economics

Chapter 8Conservation, Efficiency, and Generation

The most direct way of conserving a limited resource is by using less of it. Conservation isn't a new idea; even single-cell organisms such as amoebas and algae have mastered the essentials of conservation. Yet many people resist the simple notion of applying basic conservation techniques to reduce their use of energy.

What do microscopic life forms know that we don't? On some level, those tiny creatures apparently have a better understanding of how the world works than we do. For a variety of reasons, we have developed a warped perception of energy. We tend to see it as cheap and unlimited; in truth it is neither.

Inefficient use of energy really upsets me. I grew up poor, and I learned the value of frugality early in life. From my perspective, inefficiency is a form of unnecessary waste. To me, it feels like throwing away money. Using energy efficiently, however, is like putting money in the bank. That's why I spend the majority of my time helping people and companies use energy more efficiently.

Conservation and efficiency are two-thirds of the overall solution to our global energy problem. The remaining third is generation. We'll look at all three in this chapter. Here's an important takeaway based on my decades of experience: Your primary focus should be on reducing your overall energy needs through conservation and efficiency. I'm not saying that generation isn't important, but you'll achieve your energy goals sooner ...