Ferreyra, Godinez, Jacobo, Valdez 1 Samantha Ferreyra Sophia Valdez Noah Jacobo Gabriel Godinez Ms.

Robert Honors Literature/Composition 1A 5 December 2012 Energy Conservation Thirty years ago, our energy landscape looked remarkably different from what it does now. In the 1980s, we consumed about 75.96 quadrillion British Thermal units (a unit of energy), but presently we use an average of 110.83 quadrillion British thermal units. Over time, the way weve used energy has increased greatly. Today, the price of petroleum is now higher than any time in history and it has grown to spectacular levels. Global oil has peaked in production and many things that contain oil have risen in price including gasoline. The global economic crisis has brought stock markets into massive decline and bankrupted hundreds of companies in many parts of the world. The leaders of developed societies, our leaders, are struggling with this significant matter (Montgomery). Energy consumed over time causes climate changes, an increase in pollution, and a reduction in supply of the planets resources. Energy consumption has been linked to increasing changes in the climate due to power plants, factories, and vehicles. Power plants and related electrical operations produce thirty six percent of the total United States greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse effect is the energy from the sun that passes through the Earth's atmosphere and some of the energy is trapped in the form of heat ("Factories' Pollution & Other Causes of Global Warming."). Therefore it keeps the

Ferreyra, Godinez, Jacobo, Valdez 2 Earth warm and results in global warming. Another factor that contributes to climate changes is factories that produce carbon dioxide and add to the greenhouse effect as they burn fossil fuel. As a result, water level will rise as the ice melts and that will lead to more floods. In addition to global warming, vehicles emit about 5.3 of carbon per gallon that sums up to 1.5 tons of carbon into the air annually ("Global Warming Causes"). The automobile's higher levels of carbon are caused by low fuel economy standards and driving farther in distance. In any case if the greenhouse effect is not slowed down, the Earth will have carbon dioxide emissions that linger longer than 1,000 years in the air. Energy causes an increase in pollution. For example, everyday energy consumption causes electric and magnetic fields that cause electric pollution (Electrical Pollution). Another factor are pollutants such as smog and haze that make it difficult for elderly people and people with lung problems to breathe ("The Secret Lives of Energy). Additionally, landfills release a concentrated amount of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air ("How Does Air Get Polluted?"). It helps to create harmful greenhouse gas emissions that cause pollution. Lastly, energy like hydroelectric power plants may harm fish populations, change water temperature and force the relocation of people and animals that live near the dam site ("Environmental Impact by Energy Source"). Technologies like fish ladders help fish go up over dams and enter upstream spawning areas, but the presence of hydroelectric dams changes their migration patterns and hurts fish populations. Conserving energy helps to save the amount of resources that is available today. Living green helps sustain the amount of resources that the planet contains (Bene. of Energy Cons.). The amount of fossil fuel that is available now is going down slowly and eventually, fossil fuel will be gone together. But if people decide to conserve energy, fossil fuel will expire later instead

Ferreyra, Godinez, Jacobo, Valdez 3 of sooner. This will give people in the future a chance to travel more. Another resource that is running out slowly is water (Water and Energy Effic.). People have been using up water by taking long showers and leaving the sink on. This wastes water, but if people conserve the energy that we use like in taking shorter shower. As a result, water supplies wouldnt go down so fast and there wont be many problems for us in the future. The resources available are going down slowly because people arent conserving much energy. If the public does conserve energy, it will lead to an easier life. Some may say that we are just passing the energy crisis to our future generations (What Are the Pros and Cons of Energy Conservation). By saving energy we are saving non-renewable items from being used when not needed. Pollution grows more when we leave by-products behind and unearthing of non-renewable energy is causing destruction to our planet ("Advantages and Disadvantages of Non Renewable Energy"). Trying ceiling or portable fans to circulate air and make rooms feel cooler without using much energy. Even turning off the television, fan and lights or lamps when not needed is saving an abundant amount of energy. Energy consumption is a major problem, but can be solved. If everyone did their part in saving energy, there would not be as many problems as it is today.

SOPHIA I

REWROTE THE LAST SENTENCE>>>> MAKE CHANGES or REWRITE YOUR OWN)

Ferreyra, Godinez, Jacobo, Valdez 4 Works Cited "Advantages and Disadvantages of Non Renewable Energy." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Advantages_and_Disadvantages_of_Non_Renewabl e_Energy>. "Environmental Impact by Energy Source." Energy4me. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.energy4me.org/energy-facts/environmental-protection/environmentalimpact-by-source/>. "Factories' Pollution & Other Causes of Global Warming." Green Living on National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/factories-pollution-other-causes-globalwarming-2551.html> "Global Warming Causes." : Cars and Global Warming. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://ginovieto-globalwarming.blogspot.com/2009/03/cars-and-global-warming.html>. "Green Student U." Pollution, Water Pollution, Air Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/pollution>. "How Does Air Get Polluted?" Green Living on National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012 <http://greenliving.nationalgeographic.com/air-polluted-2254.html>. "The Benefits of Energy Conservation.": Green Energy: Clean Energy, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy: GreatGreenIdea.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://www.greatgreenidea.com/The-Benefits-of-Energy-Conservation.html>. Montgomery, Scott L. The Powers That Be: Global Energy for the Twenty-first Century and

Ferreyra, Godinez, Jacobo, Valdez 5 Beyond. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2010. Print "The Secret Lives of Energy- The Energy Problem - Energy Pollution." The Secret Lives of Energy - The Energy Problem - Energy Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fi.edu/guide/hughes/energypolution.html>. "Water & Energy Efficiency." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/waterefficiency.cfm>. "What Are the Pros and Cons of Energy Conservation?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_pros_and_cons_of_energy_conservation>. "What Is Dirty Electricity? What Is Electrical Pollution?" What Is Dirty Electricity? What Is Electrical Pollution? N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dirtyelectricity.org/electrical-pollution.shtml