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Technically Speaking

Conserve and Conserve Some More

by Dave Trecker

he doomsday scenarios persist. We hear the planet is Local officials are pitching in. Miami-Dade just announced it
burning up, the glaciers are melting, the sea is rising, is outfitting 1,700 public housing units with new low-energy air
T wildfires are raging, drought is everywhere. Climate change conditioners.
is upon us. Europeans are also starting to conserve. Germans, noted for
What can we do? The climate warriors want us to stop using their frugality, are reportedly reducing heating in the winter, doing
fossil fuels (won’t happen), convert to electric vehicles (sales are laundry less often and with fuller loads, even paring back the
tanking) and bring on solar and wind (slow and inadequate). More lighting in their beloved Christmas markets.
nuclear power and even carbon capture are considered acceptable The French, seeking “energy sobriety,” are switching off street
(but many years away). lights at night and shutting down idle electrical equipment.
What is seldom mentioned is the one sure thing. We can do it Parisians have even taken to dimming lights on the Eiffel Tower.
now, it costs little and it always works. How important is conservation?
What is this magic elixir? Simple conservation. The Department of Energy says a whopping 40% of U.S.
If you use less energy, you need to produce less energy. energy consumption is in buildings, commercial and residential
Producing less energy means a reduction in greenhouse gasses and – mostly for heating, cooling and lighting. Make an impact there,
a slowing of climate change. and you’ll impact climate change.
There’s nothing sexy about conservation. It has no pizazz. As is often the case, research is showing the way. Here are some
Politicians get no attaboys. Everyday folks can do it. examples.
We’re talking about adding insulation, turning off lights when Cork-like insulation materials and new exterior walls that shift
you leave a room, setting AC temperatures a few degrees higher, between heat-absorbing solids on cold days and heat-emitting
car pooling, installing multi-pane windows and making wider use liquids on hot ones are under development.
of heat pumps. The latest push is on rooftop coatings, paints that reduce solar
Local energy expert Jim Rogers says, “Maximizing conservation heat gain. Chemical & Engineering News reports that dialing in
would save more energy per dollar spent than all the energy solar particle size on barium sulfate or calcium carbonate pigments
projects produce.” maximizes light scattering and reflects 98% of solar radiation. That
Here’s a partial list of conservation measures can yield up to 20% energy savings in most buildings.
• Take showers of 5 minutes or less. Paint researchers are pushing conservation even further. Soon
• Use cool water when washing clothes. to be available are coatings with thermochromic pigments that
• Keep blinds on east-facing windows closed in the morning. change from reflective white on hot days to absorbing purple when
• Use LED instead of incandescent bulbs. the weather turns cold.
• Insulate attic space. One startup company is customizing paints for maximal
• Clean and frequently replace air filters. effectiveness in each of the seven U.S. climate zones.
• Get a home energy audit for expert advice on further savings. These are early days, but the progress so far has been impressive.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends raising your AC And there’s an important side benefit to conservation. In
thermostat by at least 7 degrees when you’re away for an extended addition to slowing climate change, the homeowner can also save a
period of time. slug of money on electric bills. My wife takes credit for that every
None of this is rocket science. Yet the EPA estimates month.
homeowners can cut energy usage by up to 25% by taking such Dr. Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Naples.
common-sense steps.
70 Life in Naples | January 2024