Have you ever left a light on when you left a room? Does it really make much difference? It could. You've probably heard of a "power black out" before. A power black out is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area. The United States has a new problem now called "brown outs." These occur when there is not enough power for everybody to use the things they wish. This is usually in "high demand" times such as on a very hot day when everyone is using their air conditioners to cool their houses after they arrive home from work. In this activity, you will learn about reducing energy waste.

Brown outs are intentional. They are complete interruptions in power to certain areas in order to stabilize the power grid during times of peak usage.

When a brown out occurs:

• electronic equipment may function poorly or not at all
• electric motors will overheat; some will operate slower
• electrical interference will increase, especially with computers and communications operations
• large power surges or spikes may occur, which might damage or destroy electronic equipment

Can this occur in Canada? Certainly! As demand for electricity increases with more people in an area, brown outs are a possibility. You can help to minimize the chance of a brown out by turning off all electronic devices when you are not using them. This reduces the amount of power required by your home. It also reduces your electricity bill, and that's always a good thing!

Energy waste is energy that is transformed without significant use. Remember, by universal law, energy can't be created nor destroyed; it can only be transformed from one form to another.

An example of wasted energy is energy generated by vehicles in the form of heat energy. Chemical energy (as fuel) is burned, which transforms into kinetic energy (the vehicle runs). Since there is no 100% efficient machines, some of the energy in the form of heat is transferred into the atmosphere by exhaust of the vehicle. This heat is a wasted energy since it is not put into significant use.

Most people don’t realize how much energy they waste around their home with their kitchen appliances, heating devices, and other things without even knowing.

You can reduce energy waste around your home with such actions as the following:

• Install energy-efficient lights.
• Be sure your windows and doors are properly closed in the winter to keep heat in and in the summer to keep heat out.
• Keep your heating/cooling system clean. Blockages in the ducts can lead to higher bills as you try to keep a certain area hotter or cooler.
• Turn your thermostat down at night. An automatic thermostat never forgets to do this!
• Reduce the temperature of your water heater a few degrees.
• Install a water-efficient shower head.
• When leaving a room, turn the lights off.
• Keep your computer turned off when it's not in use.
• Unplug all small appliances when not in use.

Purchase energy-efficient appliances. These usually have the "energy star" symbol on them.

@creativecommons

Outside your home, your family can use either public transportation or purchase or lease a fuel-efficient vehicle. This helps to reduce the amount of fuel used.