Chapter 4. Efficient energy use (рациональное использование энергии)

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text, using the words below.

Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature. Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights use one-third the energy of incandescent lights and may last 6 to 10 times longer. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production processes or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses.

In physics, the law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system cannot change—it is said to be conserved over time. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed, but can change form, for instance chemical energy can be converted to kinetic energy in the explosion of a stick of dynamite.

A consequence of the law of conservation of energy is that a perpetual motion machine of the first kind cannot exist. That is to say, no system without an external energy supply can deliver an unlimited amount of energy to its surroundings.

Energy conservation refers to reducing energy consumption through using less of an energy service. Energy conservation differs from efficient energy use, which refers to using less energy for a constant service. For example, driving less is an example of energy conservation. Driving the same amount with a higher mileage vehicle is an example of energy efficiency. Energy conservation and efficiency are both energy reduction techniques.

Even though energy conservation reduces energy services, it can result in increased environmental quality, national security, personal financial security and higher savings. It is at the top of the sustainable energy hierarchy. It also lowers energy costs by preventing future resource depletion.

An Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) is any type of project conducted, or technology implemented, to reduce the consumption of energy in a building. The types of projects implemented can be in a variety of forms but usually are designed to reduce utility costs: water, electricity and gas being the main three for industrial and commercial enterprises. The aim of an ECM should be to achieve a savings, reducing the amount of energy used by a particular process, technology or facility.

Energy Conservation Measures are often combined into larger guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracts to maximize energy savings while minimizing disruption to building occupants by coordinating renovations. Some ECMs cost less to implement yet return a higher energy savings. Traditionally, lighting projects were a good example of “low hanging fruit” that could be used to drive implementation of more substantial upgrades to HVAC systems in large facilities. Smaller buildings might combine window replacement with modern insulation using advanced building foams to improve energy performance. Energy dashboard projects are a new kind of ECM, which relies on the behavioural change of building occupants to save energy. When implemented as part of a program, case studies (such as that for the DC Schools) report energy savings up 30%. Under the right circumstances, open energy dashboards can even be implemented for free to improve upon these savings even more.

On a global basis energy efficiency works behind the scenes to improve our energy security, lower our energy bills and move us closer to reaching our climate goals. According to the IEA, some 40% of the global energy efficiency market is financed with debt and equity. Energy Performance Investment are one financing mechanism by which ECMs can be implemented now and paid for by the savings realized over the life of the project. While all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., have statutes allowing companies to offer energy savings performance contracts, success varies because of variations in the approach, the state’s degree of involvement and other factors. Homes and businesses are implementing energy-efficiency measures that include low-energy lighting, insulation and even high tech energy dashboards to cut bills by avoiding waste and boosting productivity.

Businesses implementing ECMs in their commercial buildings often employ Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) experienced in energy performance contracting. This industry has been around since the 1970s and is more prevalent than ever today. The US-based organization EVO (Efficiency Valuation Organization) has created a set of guidelines for ESCOs to adhere to in evaluating the savings achieved by ECMs. These guidelines are called the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP).

Homeowners implementing ECMs in their residential buildings often start with an energy audit. This is a way homeowners look at what areas of their homes are using, and possibly losing energy. Residential energy auditors are accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) or the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). Homeowners can hire a professional or do it themselves or use a smartphone to help do an audit.

Words to be remembered.

incandescent light bulbs - лампы накаливания

compact fluorescent lights - компактные люминесцентные лампы

chemical energy - химическая энергия

perpetual motion machine of the first kind - вечный двигатель первого вида

efficient energy use - эффективное использование энергии

kinetic energy - кинетическая энергия

savings – экономия

energy conservation – энергосбережение

energy savings performance contracts – энергосeрвисный контракт

isolated system - изолированная система

energy service companies - энергосервисная компания

international performance measurement and verification protocol - международное измерение эффективности и верификации протоколов

 

Exercise 2. Answer the following questions.

1. What is a consequence of the law of conservation of energy?

2. Is efficient energy use the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and service?

3. Smaller buildings combine window replacement with modern insulation using advanced building foams to improve energy performance, don't they?

4. Can energy be neither created nor destroyed, but can change form?

5. What measures are home and business taken to energy efficiency?

6. Energy conservation and efficiency are both energy reduction techniques, aren't they?

Exercise 3. Translate these international words and word combinations.

insulating a home, fluorescent lights, skylights, energy, conserve, convert, dynamite, environmental, national security, personal financial security, energy hierarchy, energy, energy efficiency, energy audit, Energy Performance Investment

Exercise 4. Connect parts of the sentences (ABC) to get a complete sentence.

А

1) Lighting projects were a good example of “low hanging fruit”...

2) Even though energy conservation reduces energy services...

3) Homes and businesses are implementing energy-efficiency...

4) Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces...

B

1)... it can result in increased environmental quality, national security...

2)... the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with...

3)... that could be used to drive implementation...

4)... measures that include low-energy lighting, insulation and even high tech energy dashboards...

C

1)... using traditional incandescent light bulbs.

2)... to cut bills by avoiding waste and boosting productivity.

3)... personal financial security and higher savings.

4)... of more substantial upgrades to HVAC systems in large facilities.

Exercise 5. Choose the sentence expressing the main idea of the text

1. Under the right circumstances, open energy dashboards can even be implemented for free to improve upon these savings even more.

2. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production processes or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses.

3. Energy efficiency is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services.

4. Even though energy conservation reduces energy services, it can result in increased environmental quality, national security, personal financial security and higher savings.

5. Homeowners can hire a professional or do it themselves or use a smartphone to help do an audit.

 

Exercise 6. Say whether the statements are true or false. Correct them if necessary.

1. Driving more is an example of energy conservation.

2. Energy Performance Investment are one financing mechanism by which ECMs can be implemented now and paid for by the savings realized over the life of the project.

3. In physics, the law of conservation of energy states that the total energy of an isolated system can change.

4. Energy conservation refers to reducing energy consumption through using less of an energy service.

5. Reduce the cost of utilities: water, electricity and gas, are the main projects for industrial and commercial enterprises.

6. Installing fluorescent lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs.

 

Exercise 7. Complete the sentences.

1. Compact … use one-third the energy of incandescent lights and may last 6 to 10 times longer.

2. Energy can be neither created nor ….

3. The aim of an ECM should be …, reducing the amount of energy used by a particular process, technology or facility.

4. Energy conservation also lowers energy costs by preventing future ….

5. A consequence of the law of conservation of energy is that a … of the first kind cannot exist.

6. Driving the same amount with a higher mileage vehicle is an example of ….

 

Exercise 8. Make up sentences from the following words.

1. efficiency are, energy, conservation, reduction techniques, and, energy, both

2. provide products, efficient energy, required to, the amount, use, to reduce, and services, is the goal, of energy

3. boosting productivity, to cut, homes and businesses, energy-efficiency, avoiding waste and, are implementing, bills by

4. exist, of energy, a consequence, of conservation, is that a perpetual, of the first kind, cannot, of the law, motion machine

5. losses, in energy, application, of commonly, improvements, efficiency are, achieved by, accepted, to reduce, energy, generally, methods

6. can, destroyed, created, energy, but change, form, nor, can be neither

 

Exercise 9. Retell the text.