Energy Conservation vs. Energy Efficiency

By: Karsen Grace

​I’m sure you’ve heard people say to turn off lights when you leave a room or to turn off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your face, etc. Some people may have even suggested trying out LED light bulbs or other energy efficient appliances. These statements are all targeted to save energy, and every single day, people use energy in so many ways. Whether it’s for turning on lights, cooking a meal, traveling by various transportation methods, heating or cooling rooms, and so many more, energy is being expended. However, it is the way you choose to use your energy that can affect the environment and people’s well being as well.

These examples that were mentioned above—turning off lights when leaving a room and turning off water when not in use—are both examples of energy conservation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), energy conservation is any action or behavior that will result in less energy usage. In other words, adjusting your day-to-day routine to use less energy. Some additional examples of what energy conservation can look like are air drying your clothes and dishes, turning your refrigerator temperature down, and baking with glass or ceramic pans that don’t require as much heat.
    Even though there are many ways to reduce the usage of energy through conservation, there are other methods that are just as effective. Similar to energy conservation but slightly different is energy efficiency. Energy efficiency, also according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, is using certain products or technology that requires less energy but still function the same. Some examples would be opting for a LED light bulb, using smart power strips, and perhaps even installing a smart thermostat. Both energy conservation and energy efficiency are great methods to help control how you use your energy. Nonetheless, one may be more accessible or best suited for you. For instance, if you’re someone that relies on artificial light often, you may want to use the energy efficient method and invest in LED light bulbs. That way, you still have access to light, but you are using less energy. On the other hand, if you’re someone that might not have enough money to or don’t necessarily want to invest in energy efficient products, energy conservation may be for you. You can do simple tasks such as turning off the lights when you leave a room, relying more on natural light, and turning off the water when you are not necessarily using it. Not only does this save energy, but it also saves you money as well.
Now that we’ve discussed a little about energy and ways to save it, you may be wondering why this matters. Why should you be conscious of how you use your energy? Why should you change some of your daily products or behaviors? Well, like mentioned earlier, how you choose to use your energy affects the environment—alongside public health as well. The greater energy emissions released into the environment results in a lower quality of life. Not only are there environmental impacts such as habitat loss, habitat damage, and wildlife loss, but there’s also effects that can directly affect the public as well such as air and water pollution. Alongside knowing the effects, you also may be wondering how much energy you are actually using. Perhaps you’re a visual person and need to see the results rather than hear them. If that’s the case, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website, has a household carbon footprint calculator that can help you calculate your estimated household energy consumption, as well as help you find ways to decrease emissions. All things considered, whether it’s energy conservation or energy efficiency, there are simple ways to choose how you can use your energy to minimize some of the negative impacts on the environment.