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Two of the energy industry’s main concerns are environmental impact and energy usage. Each year, more sustainable practices are being integrated to help boost energy efficiency and integrate more renewable fuels. We’re going to dive into more detail about specific practices below to help you better understand what the current electrical industry is doing.
Understanding Environmental Impact
One of the biggest growing concerns about the electrical industry is the environmental impact that burning fossil fuels is having on the environment. When these fuels are burned to create energy, they emit harmful greenhouse gases. As these gases are emitted into the atmosphere, they trap in the sun’s heat.
This is known as global warming, and it’s leading to climate changes across the globe. Snow and rainfall patterns are shifting and creating more extreme events, like floods and heat waves. Plus, the average temperature is on the rise in recent decades. This is showing to be detrimental to both nature and animals.
A Dual-Faceted Solution
In an effort to help minimize this greenhouse effect, the electrical industry is implementing two key practices. The first focuses on energy efficiency and reducing the overall consumption of electricity to minimize the emittance of greenhouse gases from burning traditional fossil fuels. The second approach is integrating more renewable energy sources into multiple areas, including the mainstream electrical grid and in residential settings.
The Key Is Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency has been a constant concern across many different industries. While greenhouse gas emissions are a driving force, the rising cost of electricity production is having a stark impact on the nation’s drive for more efficiency. One area that has seen an abundance of energy-efficient products over recent decades is the residential sector.
Homeowners can enjoy investing in energy-efficient appliances that are more effective and that use much less energy than their past counterparts. These include items like heating and cooling systems, water heaters, refrigerators, clothes washers, dryers, and dishwashers.
Many appliances even come with integrated smart technology that can further efficiency in a couple of ways. First, they monitor energy usage to help users become better informed about their energy consumption. Second, they make suggestions about the best time to take advantage of off-peak running hours.
The Various Types of Renewable Fuel Integration
Renewable fuels are those that burn clean and don’t contribute to the greenhouse gas effect. Unlike fossil fuels, the beauty of renewable fuels is they’re virtually inexhaustible. This is because they’re harnessed from free natural resources that are abundant all around the world. The three most common resources used for renewable energy are the sun, wind, and water.
Sunlight
The power of the sun has been one of the most notable forms of electricity production. More specifically, photovoltaic solar panels are designed to absorb the sun’s energy, and an inverter converts that energy into usable electricity. In the residential sector, homeowners are investing in rooftop solar panels to create their own energy.
Battery storage is currently available where all the energy that these PV solar panels consume and produce can be effectively stored. This helps to reduce a household’s reliance on the energy grid during overnight hours and sunless days. Solar panels with battery storage can go a long way in helping to reduce energy bills for homeowners while at the very same time minimizing their household’s carbon footprint.
Apart from battery storage, the energy from residential solar panels can be fed back into the local power grid. This is known as net metering, and it allows homeowners to receive credit for the energy that their solar panels provide for the local power grid. When more of the utility company’s power comes in from renewable household sources, they need to rely less on burning fossil fuels to create energy.
Wind
Wind energy has been a growing topic of discussion as more and more wind farms pop up all over the nation. While wind turbines do require a much larger upfront cost, they can produce quite a lot of consistent energy for all business sectors. From powering industrial plants to feeding into the local electricity grid, wind turbines are another clean and renewable energy source.
Water
The energy that flowing water produces has been harnessed for centuries. Using a turbine, pump, or waterwheel, the rotational energy from the flowing water can be converted into usable electricity. Hydropower plants are used as a large-scale method for energy production. However, microhydropower plants are becoming more popular among homeowners who want to create their own renewable energy sources.
Apart from using flowing water from streams and rivers, marine energy is a growing field that’s creating more possibilities for energy production. Energy is being harnessed from tides, currents, and waves. Marine energy is actually considered one of the most reliable sustainable energy resources due to the cyclical nature of these natural water movements.
Integration Starts With the Electrical Industry
The electrical industry is seeing a growing number of green jobs as the focus transitions into capturing energy through sustainable methods. With sustainability offering the country stability and energy independence alongside reducing environmental impact, this transition will continue to move forward.
The electrical industry is at the forefront as electricians are required to design, install, maintain, and repair new electrical equipment. From installing geothermal household heat pumps to constructing wind turbines, there are many needs for those in the electrical industry.
The Future of Sustainability Practices
There are many new sustainability practices that are being integrated every day in the electrical sector to help better power the nation. One that’s received a lot of focus lately is the smart grid. New advancements in technology now allow outdated electricity grids to be updated with solutions that permit more energy efficiency, fewer energy losses, and the integration of sustainable fuel sources.
On the residential scale, the electrical industry is offering new and innovative products that help homeowners better monitor and reduce their daily energy consumption. Apart from energy-efficient smart appliances, homeowners can enjoy products like energy-efficient lighting and smart home technology.
These both go a long way in helping to better optimize household energy consumption while reducing electrical waste. Electricians are responsible for retrofitting new sustainable technology into existing households while designing more energy-efficient home electrical systems for new construction.
As we continue looking further into the future, the electrical industry is going to be the leading industry in accelerating sustainability practices. Further advancements in energy efficiency are expected across much of the consumer product realm.
As the upfront cost of tools necessary for harnessing sustainable energy continues to drop, more homeowners are going to be receptive to integrating these sustainable practices into their homes. Electricians working in the green sector are going to be in increased demand moving forward as the industry makes a major shift towards increased sustainability.
Trustworthy Electrician Service
Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric offers trustworthy electrician services for the Los Angeles, CA area. We can also help with all your plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs. Call our office today, and book a consultation for an electrical upgrade with one of our licensed electricians.
