SURGE GREEN CHALLENGE

The Surge Green Challenge is a commitment that Cincinnati State, along with colleges
around the country, has made to create an environmentally friendly campus. In light of
increasing energy costs and concerns over global climate changes, students and
employees are very motivated and want very much to reduce our college’s environmental
impact.

The first step in this effort was the signing of the American College and University’s
Climate Commitment as well as the Hamilton County Go Green Challenge by Cincinnati
State’s President, Dr. Henderson. The entire college community (from students to
academics to administration to operational areas) will be part of these efforts. As a
college, Cincinnati State will take steps to promote, educate, and implement
environmental conservation.

The goal of this action project is to promote environmental awareness throughout the
campus community and to reduce the environmental impact of College operations
through:

• Energy conservation
• Waste reduction and recycling
• Green purchasing
• Educational advocacy
• Advancing campus climate efforts

This module is an introduction to Energy Conservation and is by no means a

comprehensive and thorough delivery of environmental, recycling, and energy
conservation issues. There will be additional web site links and resources at the end that
students are encouraged to read and research on their own. Energy usage and
conservation is “the hot topic” of the day and affects our day to day lives. It is our hope
that you gain enough information to help you make decisions in your own life to
personally conserve and have an impact on the environment.

As part of an assessment tool, you will be given a 25 question on-line exam. The exam
will be based upon the reading material provided in the module. There will be a few
questions that you may not know the answer nor can find in the readings. Use your test
taking techniques covered in class to answer the questions. You have 1 week to complete
test. It is completely electronic and we ask that you work independently.

If you have any questions or problems with the module, do not hesitate to contact your
instructor by email.

Well let’s jump right into it!

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 ENERGY CONSERVATION
Energy is the big “buzz word” these days. We all see the impact that high oil costs in our
everyday lives. It impacts nearly every aspect of our lives. Energy and its environmental
impact is a highly politically charged topic. There are many with their own personal,
scientific, economical, and political interests in these debates. No matter where you fall
in the mix, all would agree that conservation is the most important step in reducing fuel
consumption and having an immediate impact on the environment.

The concept is simple, “Go Lean Then Green”. No matter the form of energy we use,
energy conservation is critical. This is where we can see the quickest impact to our
environment and our wallets. Since we are direct consumers of energy, if we need to
conserve energy in order to reduce energy costs and promote economic security.

Conservation is the management of a resource so that it continues to provide the

maximum benefit over a long period of time. Energy conservation is the practice of
decreasing the quantity of energy we use throughout the day. Energy conservation will
help reduce the energy consumption and energy demand, and thus offset the growth in
energy supply needed to keep up with population growth. This reduces the rise in energy
costs, and the need for new power plants, and energy imports from abroad. Conservation
is needed in transportation, industry, and in the home.

Conservation in transportation includes all vehicles used for personal or freight

transportation. Of all the energy used in this sector, approximately 65% is consumed by
personally owned gasoline-powered vehicles. Diesel-powered transport trains, merchant
ships, and trucks consumes about 20%, and aircraft consumes most of the remaining 15%
(source: US Dept. of Energy, "Annual Energy Outlook" (February 2006), Table A2 ).

Industry can also take major steps to conserve energy consumption. Lighting is generally
the most wasteful component of commercial use. With the use of programmable lighting
automation, and elimination of over-illumination, lighting energy can be reduced by
approximately fifty percent in many commercial buildings. Industries can also utilize
programmable heating systems to monitor and maintain heating and cooling during non-
work times. Educating employees on the importance of energy conservation and waste
reduction and implementing conservation practices into the workplace help reduce energy
consumption.

Residential conservation has the most immediate impact on our day to day lives. Did you
know that the typical U.S. family spends more than $1,600 a year on home utilities?
Energy efficiency in the home will not only make your home more comfortable, but will
give you long term financial rewards. Nearly half the energy, a house consumes is used
by heating and air conditioning. Utilizing good insulation and programmable thermostats
will cut energy usage down. Small appliances are also big energy users. Some of them
consume power even when not in use. Below is a list of ten common household
appliances ranked from the highest energy user to the lowest.

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 HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE ENERGY USAGE (10 highest, 1 lowest)

Appliance Ranking How does it use energy?

Water Heater 10 Uses a large amount of energy to heat water
Stove 9 Uses energy from gas or electric to cook food
Refrigerator 8 Uses energy to cool or freeze food
Washer 7 Uses energy to wash clothes
Dryer 6 Uses energy to dry clothes
Dishwasher 5 Uses energy to clean dishes
Aquarium 4 Uses energy to maintain a fish tank
Microwave 3 Uses energy to generate microwaves to heat food
Television 2 Uses energy to produce picture on screen
Computer 1 Uses energy to run a computer

Many of these appliances are “always on”. This means they may always be utilizing
energy current even when not in use. They may have clocks on them or utilize a residual
charge for memory usage. These rankings do not take into consideration over usage. For
example, if you leave your computer on all day long, it will quickly move up the chart.

When you use electricity, the power company measures this in what is known as
kilowatts (kWh). This is the spinning wheel on your electric box. The average
residential rate is 8.3cents per kWh. A typical household consumes about 11,000 kWh
per year. This translates into about $900 annually.

You can get an idea about how much energy an appliance consumes by using an energy
calculator. There are many of these on the web. One you can find is at
http://www.csgnetwork.com/elecenergycalcs.html . This is from General Electric. The
calculator allows you to enter the amount of time used for lighting and appliances and
give you an estimate on how much these things cost you daily. This is the first step in
conservation. You can then take steps to minimize your usage or utilize them efficiently.

The key to any energy efficiency plan is to make it a lifestyle change. Evaluate your
energy consumption not only at home, but at work and on the road. Look at places you
can make an immediate difference (ex. using energy efficient light bulb). Then look at
those you can make changes over the course of time (ex. getting new windows for the
home). Also, making use of alternative energy resources can also cut down your energy
consumption. Utilizing forms of energy such as solar, wind, or geothermal as
compliments or even replacements for traditional energy will also cut back on energy
usage.

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 STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO CONSERVE
Here are some tips to help you save energy today. They are easy low-cost or no cost
ways to save energy.

Home

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in winter and comfortably high in the
summer. Purchase a programmable thermostat that will make these adjustments
for you automatically. Lowering your thermostat 2◦ in the winter can lower your
bill by approximately 6%.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They are more efficient and can cut enrgy
demands from lights as much as 75-80%.
• Air Dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Don’t forget turning of
speakers as well. They consume a lot of energy
• Plug appliances such as your TV and DVD player into a power strip; turn the
power strips off when the equipment is not in use (many appliances have a
standby mode or clock that still uses several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120° F.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Turn off lights when leaving a room
• Change filters on your furnace or air conditioners regularly
• Buy ENERGY STAR appliances.

Car or truck

• Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best/quickest way to warm up a vehicle in
the winter is to drive it
• Aggressive driving (speeding, braking, and rapid acceleration) wastes gas. Gas
mileage can be reduced by as much as 33%. As a rule of thumb, each 5 mph you
drive over 60 mph is similar to paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.
• Use air conditioning when necessary
• Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. This can improve gas mileage by 3%.
• Combine errands into one trip
• Keep your car tuned up. Change spark plugs, air filters, oil and transmission fluid
when needed
• Check into car pooling and/or public transportation
• Clear out any unnecessary weight. Extra weight reduces gas mileage.
• Reduce drag by placing items in trunk rather than on the roof. A loaded roof can
reduce gas mileage by 5%.

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 STEPS CINCINNATI STATE IS TAKING TO
CONSERVE
Cincinnati State is also implementing some conservation practices to help reduce it’s
energy consumption. Some of these you as a student will able to help and participate in.
Others will be subtle and take place while you are away from school. Here are some
examples of projects that are in the process of being implemented:

• Implementing recycling of plastic, glass, and metals and greatly increase paper
and cardboard recycling. Look for new recycling and trash bins that will help
organize waste.

• Cincinnati state is developing a plan to divert food waste and yard waste from the
waste stream through composting and/or food partnerships.

• Cincinnati State is examining the possibility of purchasing or producing at least

15% of the College’s electric consumption from renewable resources. One lab at
Cincinnati State studies and is powered by solar and geothermal power.

• Encourage the use of provide access to public transportation, carpooling, biking,

etc. for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors on campus.

• Incorporate sustainable concepts in academic curricula to educate student and

faculty on the importance of conservation and recycling.

• New lighting is being installed when possible and older lighting is being tuned up
to be more energy efficient. Motion sensors and timers are also in use to cut back
on lighting.

• Energy audits are being conducted to find where energy is not efficiently used.

• Programmable heating and cooling systems have been put in place to turn off
air/heat when the buildings are not in use.

• Thermostats are being adjusted to comfortable temperatures.

• Green purchasing practices will be put into place. Systems that are energy
efficient or are supplied by vendors that practice energy efficiency will be given
priority on purchases.

All in all, Cincinnati State is committed to becoming an environmentally friendly

campus and to help educate you in best practices for energy conservation.

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 RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy sources are those types of energies that are constantly renewed or
restored. These forms of energy use resources from the earth. They include energy from
the sun (solar), water (hydropower), the heat of the earth (geothermal), vegetation
(biofuels), and wind (wind turbines). Nearly 9% of the electricity is generated from these
sources. Let’s take a look at each of the sources of energy and see how they currently or
possibly could affect your energy needs in the future.

SOLAR

Solar energy utilizes the power of the sun to create energy. The sun delivers 10,000
times the energy used by humans. It seems like it should solve all our energy problems.
The problem is that the energy from the sun is scattered throughout the planet. It also
varies in intensity depending on the seasons, location on the planet, and weather.
Research into solar has sought to find ways to overcome this and use solar to provide
several sources of energy production. Solar power can be used to heat water, provide
heating, and generate electricity.

Source: Wikipedia

HYDROPOWER

Hydropower has been in use for a long time. Early in history, falling water was used to
turn paddle wheels that drove machinery. It was used to grind grain, saw wood, or move
things. In hydropower, huge hydroelectric dams collect water under high pressure. The
water flows through channels and spins turbo generators to make power. The amount of
power depends on how big the dam is. About 6.7% of the power generated in the U.S. is
from Hydropower and is nonpolluting.

There are some problems with Hydropower. The large dams can damage wildlife and
displace people. Migration patterns of fish are affected and en humans have been forced

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to move because to accommodate the large reservoirs. Also, there are very few sites left
in the U.S. that can build and utilize large dams.

WIND POWER

Wind power is also a renewable source of energy. It is the fastest growing energy source
in the world. Globally, wind power generation increased more than fivefold between
2000 and 2007. Wind –driven propeller blades (Wind Turbine) have been around for
many years. Wind turns large blades and then converts this into electricity. The old
“Wind Mills” on farms were once a standard feature. Farmers stopped using them when
power lines came to them. Now that energy costs are growing higher and higher, they are
now coming back into favor.

GEOTHERMAL

Geothermal power is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface. It can
also come from collection of absorbed heat derived from underground in the atmosphere
and oceans. Geothermal energy is extremely price competitive in some areas and reduces
reliance on fossil fuels. One of the most common uses of geothermal technology in our
homes is Geothermal Heat Pumps. This allows us to use the Earth as a “heat exchanger”
that extracts heat from the ground in the winter and takes the heat of the summer into the
ground.

TRANSPORTATION

With the cost of oil and its limited supply for the future, there is a critical need for a
sustainable and economical way to fuel our vehicles. These alternatives must also
address the pollution and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The most
promising alternatives come from Biofuels (Ethanol, Biodiesel), hydrogen, and fuel cells
that produce electricity from Hydrogen to power a car.

In conclusion, all these forms of renewable offer us alternative sources for our energy.
Energy is critical to our social, economic, and environmental development of society.
Although the initial setup costs of these forms of energy are high, we must continue to
emphasize the research and use of these technologies so they are affordable and reliable
replacements to fossil fuels. Until these forms of energy are fully realized, we must
continue to conserve our existing fossil fuels, make our homes and businesses more
energy efficient, and minimize our energy waste.

Remember energy conservation can help you save money as well. Good energy
conservation practices help you save money and help the planet at the same time.

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 GLOSSARY of TERMS
Biofuels
Fuels, such as ethanol, that are produced by the fermentation of starches and sugars. This
typically comes from grain, corn, sugar cane, or fruits. A mixture of ethanol and gas has
been in wide use for many years as fuel alternative.

Carbon Dioxide
A heavy colorless gas (CO2) that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form
carbonic acid, is formed especially in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion
of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and
is used in the carbonation of beverages. CO2 is one of the greenhouse gas chemical
compounds. Source: Earth 911

Climate Change
The term ‘climate change’ is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic
inconsistency, but because the Earth’s climate is never static, the term is more properly
used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. In some cases,
‘climate change’ has been used synonymously with the term, ‘Global Warming’;
scientists however, tend to use the term in the wider sense to also include natural changes
in climate. Source: Earth 911

Compost
Composting is Nature’s way of recycling. Composting refers to a solid waste
management technique that uses natural processes to convert organic materials to humus
through the action of microorganisms. Compost is a mixture that consists largely of
decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land.
Source: Earth 911

Conservation
Conservation is the wise use of natural resources (nutrients, minerals, water, plants,
animals, etc.). Planned action or non-action to preserve or protect living and non-living
resources. Source: Earth 911

Energy Star
A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the
environment through superior energy efficiency. Energy Star ratings indicate products
that use at least 15% less energy than required by federal standards.

Fossil Fuel
Fossil fuels are the remains of plant and animal life that are used to provide energy by
combustion; coal, oil, natural gas.

Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells use hydrogen to produce electricity and power a car with an electric motor.

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Geothermal
Geothermal power is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface

Global Warming
An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in
the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer
to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases.
Scientists generally agree that the Earth’s surface has warmed by about 1 degree
Fahrenheit in the past 140 years. Source: Earth 911

Greenhouse Effect
The effect produced as greenhouse gases allow incoming solar radiation to pass through
the Earth’s atmosphere, but prevent most of the outgoing infrared radiation from the
surface and lower atmosphere from escaping into outer space. Source: Earth 911

Non-Renewable Resource
A resource that is NOT capable of being naturally restored or replenished; a resource that
is exhausted because it has not been replaced (e.g. copper) or because it is used faster
than it can be replaced at any significant rate on a human time scale (e.g. oil, coal [what
we call fossil fuels]). Source: Earth 911

Photovoltaic Cells
Used in solar power, photovoltaic cells are devices that convert light energy into an
electric current.

Recyclable
A term used to designate that a product or its package can be recycled.

Renewable Energy
Renewable energy effectively utilizes natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides, and
geothermal heat for providing energy.

Solar Energy
Energy derived from the Sun; includes direct solar energy for generation of electricity
and indirect for heating.

Turbogenerator
A turbine coupled to and driving an electric generator. Nearly all commercial electricity
is produced by such devises.

Wind Farms
Arrays of numerous wind turbines used for the production of electrical power.

Wind Turbines
“Windmills” designed for the purpose of producing electrical power.

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 SUGGESTED WEB TOOLS AND RESOUCES
Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
www.conservation.org/carboncalculator

Choose the Right Light Bulbs

www.environmentaldefense.org/recyclingcalculator.aspx

General Electric Energy Calculator

http://www.csgnetwork.com/elecenergycalcs.html

Personal Conservation Plan

www.earthlab.com

Energy Star: Appliance and lighting information

http://www.energystar.gov

Earth 911: Recycling tips

http://earth911.org

U.S. Department of Energy Consumer Tips

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/

California Energy Commission

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/index.html

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_conservation

EPA Energy Conservation

http://www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/p2pages/energy.pdf

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