Energy Consumption

In the United States it is difficult to think of an activity a person does throughout their day that does not involve some form of energy. From cooking dinner, taking a shower to walking down a hallway, all these activities use various forms of energy. Energy is available to many people in various forms and in some cases is a finite resource. When using energy derived from coal or oil one may choose to be conscious of how much they are using. Many energy forms available are derived from nonrenewable resources so it is important to strive toward using energy conservatively. Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used. It may be achieved through efficient energy use, in which case energy use is decreased while achieving a similar outcome, or by reduced consumption of energy services. The purpose of this paper is to help define energy conservation, become aware of all activities that use energy and enact an informal plan to help families conserve more energy in their daily lives.
A person’s individual choice to conserve or not to conserve energy holds a psychological explanation. According to Andrew Baum and Jerome E. Singer in their book Advances in Environmental Psychology, “The consumption of energy is the by-product of a wide variety of actions by which individuals achieve other desired goals,” (Baum/Singer, pg. 1). Individuals in the United States are often expecting immediate gratification or results from an action. Providing energy in the home allows consumers to easily facilitate their daily activities when they choose. This freedom does have some constraint however if the consumer is mindful of their utility bills. This is one of the first ways a consumer may decide that is time for them to look at their current energy use and revise it. Although costly utility bills may be a great reason to begin to conserve energy it is not the only reason a consumer should choose to practice living an energy conscious lifestyle.
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