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Running head: A CARBON-NEUTRAL ENERGY PLAN 2

A CARBON-NEUTRAL ENERGY PLAN 2

A carbon-neutral energy plan

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Introduction

In recent years, there have been objectives being set to reduce emissions of carbon and greenhouse gases which are yet to be achieved. The supply of energy is rather crucial as some numerous processes and activities require energy to function. Carbon emissions are great contributors to climate warming which is a global point of concern. Numerous strategies are being developed to maintain a low-carbon level and enhance efficiency and productivity in the world economies. This paper hence seeks to discuss a few energy conservation strategies and articulate some of their pros and cons as well as identify some steps that can be used to move towards sustainable energy production (Nadel & Ungar, 2019).

Energy conservation measures

Use of electric or hybrid vehicles

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have in recent times become rather common in societies we live in. However, there are still not many people who use them to move around. Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are greatly being recommended as the world is attempting to move to greener energy and curb climate changes. As earlier stipulated, one of the major reasons there is climatic change is majorly due to carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are rather economical and efficient in their consumption more so in a fuel economy. Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are progressively becoming more commercialized for light, medium, and heavy-duty (Nadel & Ungar, 2019).

Pros of using electric or hybrid vehicles

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles were once referred to as the future of automobile and the future has come. Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have little to no carbon emissions as they run rather efficient fuel effective systems. This hence helps in the conservation of the environment and subsequently in the reversing of adverse climatic conditions. As a user, one has to spend quite little recharging its battery as opposed to initial costs incurred in purchasing fuel. One can as well better plan their journey better as one travels to the next destination as one can account for their travel time including to recharge their batteries (Shen, Shan, & Gao, 2017).

For electric vehicles and hybrid vehicle users, there are huge savings made as these vehicles are made of lighter materials making them efficient in movement and subsequently energy efficient. There is longer travel time as opposed to stops to recharge their batteries in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles as opposed to the frequent stops made by drivers who use fuel-powered vehicles. With electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles being progressively used in the movement of heavy freight, there is much efficiency being experienced as opposed to fuel-powered vehicles (Shen, Shan, & Gao, 2017).

Cons of using electric or hybrid vehicles

Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are still a rather new technology in the industry; therefore, the concept is yet to be embraced by many. With this fact in mind, there are yet further modifications to be made. In the past, there have been cases of malfunction which have resulted in almost catastrophic consequences. Electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are as well rather expensive. There are only a few hybrid versions of vehicles and to make matters worse, there are even fewer electric vehicles with only a few people who can own them. For electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, it is rather expensive to manufacture batteries with are the source of their driving power and at times, there are added costs when there is a need to replace them (Shen, Shan, & Gao, 2017).

One of the reasons why the idea behind electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles is still not embraced is due to the maintenance of the car. Maintenance costs could shoot so high up that it becomes cheaper disposing it or operating fuel cars. Similarly, their reliability is still questionable as the vehicles are articulated to not be able to handle long trips more so in rough terrains due to their efficiency and power. There are as well several more adjustments and areas to be refined before the world's population becomes well-adjusted to the technology (Shen, Shan, & Gao, 2017).

Use of smart technologies

There are numerous innovations currently taking place across various aspects from households to lighting just to name a few. Given that energy consumption is a global issue, then these innovations are more or less necessary. The role of smart technologies is to increase efficiencies in energy consumption. In an attempt to increase efficiencies in energy consumption and provide awareness on better use of energy, smart technologies are becoming more popular with time. Smart technologies majorly involve connected devices that comprise of sensors and other appliances that communicate together and can subsequently be controlled remotely (Nadel & Ungar, 2019).

Pros of smart technologies

Recent innovations have leveraged to better use energy in a better way. Locally available resources are hence put to better use rather than lying unutilized or under-utilized. With the use of sensors, operations can be optimized as physical stimuli can be monitored and converted into signals. Smart technologies can as well be tuned to a preferable setting based on the efficiency required within a given locality. Adjustments may as well vary based on the user. With the use of smart technologies, control can be obtained and adjustments can be made over a wide range of settings as well as in multiple zones (King & Perry, 2017).

Smart technologies have been enabled to monitor all stimuli within a given system. This, therefore, assists in fault detection and analysis to facilitate for diagnostics. Changes in energy levels based on consumption and output can be well monitored. Smart technologies are more or less intelligent systems which with the help of sensors and a minicomputer, can trigger certain processes to run on their own with minimal to no human intervention. Smart technologies facilitate easy control of various attributes within the ecosystem and other surroundings even from a remote point (King & Perry, 2017).

Cons of smart technologies

Smart technologies possess quite a threat to numerous job opportunities, therefore leaving many people unemployed as processes will be automated and run with little to no human interventions. Smart technology in recent times has become rather susceptible to cyber threats. Living in a digital world has only made systems rather vulnerable to attacks hence compromising the integrity and reliability of such innovations. In other situations, smart technologies have become rather expensive to incorporate in various aspects including but not limited to energy uses (King & Perry, 2017).

As earlier indicated, the reliability of smart technologies more so when incorporated in various aspects is greatly questionable. Being a rather new concept, its strengths and weaknesses still remain more or less a mystery. With the probability of errors, bugs, and failures, its potential in greatly questionable. There are so many uncovered aspects of recent smart technologies. Therefore, its usability still remains alien to many, and with the complexity of its nature, it requires skilled personnel to best achieve its optimal outcomes (King & Perry, 2017).

Steps of moving towards sustainable energy production

Diversify the power sources

In recent times, there have been numerous alternative sources of power, most of which are green energy sources. These sources range from wind power, nuclear power, and solar power just to name a few. To facilitate stable energy production, it may then be necessary to harvest all aspects of energy available from solar, to the wind, to hydropower. This way there may be options in which processes and systems can rely on if any experiences a few setbacks. Nature has granted use with energies that can be harnessed and converted into power that can be used for various tasks. Processes have over time become fully reliant on electric power to facilitate for productivity (Bogdanov et al., 2019).

Reduce wastage and power consumption by incorporation of smart technologies

There are a significant power wage and consumption more so for appliances used within households. In many cases, we have all fallen victim of leaving the bulb on or leaving the room aircon longer than need be. With the help of smart technologies, there can be automatic switching on or off upon demand, and the preset conditions needed to be maintained. Smart technologies leverage resources and the knowledge available for a greater good. Therefore, items such as sensors and minicomputers can be incorporated to fabricate systems that monitor and run processes and procedures not only specific to power usage but also generation of power (Bogdanov et al., 2019).

Use of energy star-ratted items

Star-rated appliances are items that have been subjected to tests and qualify to be used for both domestic as well and commercial use by the energy sector regulators. Star-rated items have then received the qualification needed for use hence it has been certified to be both efficient and of great quality. By using star-rated items, power can then be effectively consumed with too much wastage due to energy losses. Such items could include but not limited to motors and other household appliances. It ought to then be a requirement that all items both that use or produce power ought to be star-rated to guarantee quality, reliability, and subsequently efficiency (Bogdanov et al., 2019).

References

Bogdanov, D., Farfan, J., Child, M., Oyewo, A. S., & Breyer, C. (2019). Radical transformation pathway towards sustainable electricity via evolutionary steps. Nature communications, 10, 1-16.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08855-1

King, J., & Perry, C. (2017). Smart Buildings: Using Smart Technology to Save Energy in Existing Buildings (Report A1701). American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  https://www.aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/researchreports/a1701.pdf

Nadel, S., & Ungar, L. (2019). Halfway There: Energy Efficiency Can Cut Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050 (Report U1907). American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  https://www.aceee.org/sites/default/files/publications/researchreports/u1907.pdf

Shen, C., Shan, P., & Gao, T. (2017). A Comprehensive Overview of Hybrid Electric Vehicles. International Journal of Vehicular Technology, 1-7.  https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/571683