Author: Savannah Eades

Your kids have likely encountered the term “energy conservation” tossed around in casual conversation, in the media, or in the classroom, but they might not fully appreciate what it means, or why it matters.

Energy conservation refers to the practice of intentionally and consciously using less energy. This can be as simple as unplugging appliances when they’re not in use or turning off the light when you leave the room. It can also include more dramatic lifestyle changes, such as walking/biking to work instead of driving.  

Understanding energy conservation and the various methods of conserving energy are hot topics in today’s world. Based on a recent Gallup poll, Americans increasingly view energy conservation as more important than energy production:

“Currently 57% of Americans say the U.S. should emphasize conservation in its approach to solve the nation’s energy problems, up from 51% in 2013 and 48% in 2011. About one-third in the U.S. now favor greater emphasis on energy production as the solution.”

So, the data indicates that many Americans – including greater numbers of children — understand the dire need for energy conservation, even if they don’t understand how exactly to practice energy conservation in their own lives, or how to teach their kids about its benefits.  

Explain the growing importance of energy conservation in the modern industrialized world

Growing access to energy over the past few centuries has led to a startling increase in energy consumption. In 1820, only 6,246 terawatt hours of energy were consumed for the whole year in the whole world.

Then the global population exploded and the Industrial Revolution transformed the energy sector forever.

Comparatively, 200 years later in 2020, 167,781 terawatt hours of energy were used. This uptick in energy usage is expected to continue on a rapid upward trajectory if energy conservation doesn’t become a bigger priority. 

Conserving energy helps protect the Earth and honors Mother Nature for giving us sustaining fuel sources. Energy conservation helps in two main ways:  

• Energy conservation helps people gain greater control of their energy bills and accordingly save money (it’s economical).
• Energy conservation reduces the popular demand for Earth’s natural resources (it’s environmentally responsible).  

Let’s we’ll dive into greater detail regarding the importance of energy conservation, non-renewable vs. renewable resources, and simple tips you can introduce to your children to equip them with the tools to conserve energy on a daily basis. 

How does energy conservation protect the environment?

From an environmental standpoint, energy conservation matters because the Earth has a finite number of specific kinds of energy resources that are termed “non-renewable.” That term essentially means once they’re used, there’s no way to replace them. Later, we’ll discuss more concerning non-renewable energy resources.

By conserving energy now, we do our part to ensure that future generations of humans (and all living organisms) can continue to thrive on our planet.

How to help kids better understand energy conservation strategies

Although important, the nuances of energy conservation are not always easy to navigate.  

As a framework to help your kids understand this concept, energy conservation can be conceptualized either on a smaller, more personal scale, or a larger, more worldwide scale.

Conservation on an individual level

For individuals, energy conservation involves a consistent, conscious effort to reduce the amount of energy they use while completing their daily tasks and routines.  

The term “carbon footprint” refers to a calculation of the total number of greenhouse gases (such methane and carbon dioxide) generated by one person’s actions. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to calculate your carbon footprint and take steps from there to reduce it. 

Conservation on a global scale

On a worldwide scale, energy conservation emphasizes beneficial changes to the ways in which humans generate electricity. It emphasizes the pursuit of renewable sources of power and prioritizes energy policies that will ultimately result in a reduction of our collective carbon footprints.

A huge component of energy conservation is a massive shift in favor of renewable resources, away from non-renewable and highly polluting fossil fuels.

Help your kids appreciate the difference between non-renewable resources vs. renewable resources 

Human energy consumption patterns have rapidly changed due to the evolution of, and easy access, to technology. The marked increase in the demand for power in the 20th century led many countries, including the United States, to rely on non-renewable resources (rather than renewable resources) to produce most of their electricity. 

So, what exactly is a non-renewable vs. renewable resource?   

• Non-renewables: These are a class of natural resources that will eventually run out as their supply becomes exhausted. Examples include gas, oil, nuclear energy, natural gas, and oil.
• Renewables: These are a class of natural resources that do not run out, meaning that they can be replenished as needed. Examples commonly offered include wind energy, biomass energy, hydropower, and solar energy. As long as the sun continues to rise, we will be able to use harness its energy.  

(Learn why the sun is the world’s one true renewable resource.)

When it comes to energy conservation, renewable resources are preferable to non-renewable resources. Supplies of renewable resources eventually exhaust and they emit greenhouse gases as well, which impact the environment in a profoundly negative way.

If your kids are very young, this excellent primer video explains renewable and non-renewable energy in simple terms.

https://youtu.be/w16-Uems2Qo

Four (relatively simple) ways to teach conservation to your kids  

It’s imperative that older generations model energy conservation for younger generations. Leading by example is effective for instilling lifelong beneficial habits in children, grandchildren, nieces/nephews, neighbors, etc.

By doing so, you’ll help set the tone for future generations to come.  

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle: One of the single best ways to conserve energy is to reduce your waste (like composting whenever possible), reuse certain household items, and recycle everything you can.
• Consider switching to solar:  Installing solar energy is a fantastic way to boost your home value, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and conserve energy all at the same time.
  Take a hard look at a rooftop system with solar panels for your home or business (check out our Compass Solar 0% financing option) Also consider installing a solar battery backup, which allows you to use solar energy during power outages and during the nighttime hours.
• Limit your screen time: This may prove difficult to enforce, especially if your child likes to scroll on his/her phone, read an E-Book, or spend several hours in the evening watching television. However, limiting your screen time can do wonders for energy conservation because it saves electricity used to charge the device. Not only that, but it helps model to younger generations that life can still be enjoyed away from a screen.
• Focus on your light usage: This can be as simple as switching off the lights when you leave a room. It can help eliminate energy waste while simultaneously reducing your electricity expenses by a significant sum. Switching your incandescent lightbulbs for LED lights is a simple first step – as well as installing window treatments, setting an energy saver schedule, etc.

Energy conservation becomes second nature

Once you establish your kids’ new energy conservation habits and they become routine, conserving energy becomes second nature. You will instinctively take steps to help the planet as you move through the day, save money on your energy bill, and lead by example for younger generations.  

Contact Compass Solar to learn more

At Compass Solar, advocacy is a huge part of our mission to drive positive change. Contact us to learn more about how to pass on the torch of energy conservation to the next generation of leaders.

If you keep up with national politics, you likely heard that Congress just passed a landmark piece of legislation called the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The large spending bill has a ton of implications for renewable energy and its role in combating climate change, including for the solar power industry.

Addressing climate change, in fact, is one of the main priorities of the legislation, alongside healthcare and tax reform.

Let’s discuss the intricacies of the IRA and how it will impact solar panel owners and the economy and environment more broadly.

Federal investment in tackling climate change

Critics of the US government have rightfully lamented its slow response to climate change.

Via the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress has invested more than $300 billion in climate reform and clean energy, the largest-ever investment of its kind. Activists had originally proposed $555 billion in such spending, but that figure took a haircut through the negotiating process.

Of the $300 billion allocated to dealing with climate change, $60 billion is allocated to advancing and building clean energy infrastructure, including wind and solar power.

Potential cost savings to energy consumers + reduced greenhouse emissions

Some analyses of the impact of the Act, including by the New York Times, have indicated that it has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 40% by 2030, which would bring levels down to below 2005 output.

The White House promised in a formal statement that these investments would “lower families’ energy costs by hundreds of dollars each year. “

Across the nonprofit sector and energy industry, analysts are bullish on the beneficial long-term prospects for energy independence fostered by the provisions in the Act.

Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, summarized the optimistic outlook:

“Today is a monumental day for America’s clean energy progress and global climate leadership. With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in the Senate, solar and storage companies are one step closer to having the business certainty they need to make the long-term investments that decarbonize the electric grid and create millions of new career opportunities in cities and towns across the country.”

Inflation Reduction Act extends investment tax credit (ITC) for solar panel owners

The Inflation Reduction Act contains extensive incentives for property owners to install solar panels at their residences and businesses.

Specifically of interest here is the extension of Section 48 of the US Tax Code covering the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar panel owners in the United States, which allows homeowners to write off a sizable portion (about a quarter) of their solar panel investment on their federal taxes.

The impact of the ITC is hard to overstate. Industry groups estimate that “since the ITC was enacted in 2006, the U.S. solar industry has grown by more than 10,000% – creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and investing billions of dollars in the U.S. economy in the process.”

Accordingly, the solar ITC has positive reverberating effects throughout the economy, not just for individual property owners. That’s why advocacy groups were so adamant that it be extended.

The ITC was previously set to expire in 2023, so homeowners now have more time (until the end of 2024) to get started on their project and save money on their taxes.

Lobbying groups initially proposed and promoted an ITC extension into 2026, but the end date of 2024 was the compromise position.

Add the federal tax credits onto the potential to sell back your excess energy to the power grid via net metering, as well as 100% state property tax exemption on solar power products and the potential boost to your property value, and installing a solar panel system in your Florida home or business makes a ton of financial sense.

Learn more about how the ITC applies to Florida property owners who install solar panels.

Economic impact of the Inflation Reduction Act

The benefits of the Act extend beyond the cost savings to solar panel owners and the climate. There are larger implications for the economy as a whole, with the BlueGreen Alliance estimating the creation of 9 million jobs in the renewable energy sector over the next decade.

In addition to the ITC, the IRA also extended the production tax credit (PTC) rate of 1.5 cents/kWh, another important tax incentive program. The PTC applies to companies that generate energy from renewable sources, including solar.

Given the economic impacts of COVID-19, the gas crisis driven by the Ukraine War, and other factors, we can use all the economic boosts we can get.  The IRA delivers the goods.

Environmental impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act

The aforementioned Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has publicly declared her organization’s aim to make solar power account for 30% of all US electricity production by 2030 – a lofty goal helped along substantially by the IRA.

Experts cite the transition to renewable energy resources, away from conventional carbon-based fuels like coal and gas, as essential to prevent the worst impacts of man-made climate change.

Factoring the renewed ITC tax credit savings into the other financial benefits of solar panel systems

At Compass Solar, we were closely monitoring the legislative process as the Inflation Reduction Act moved through Congress. We were specifically focused on the ITC tax credit extension, as it impacts all of our customers and is one of the bill’s primary financial benefits related to solar power.

Accordingly, we were thrilled to see the extension pushed through – both for the affordability of our products and for the massive environmental benefits that we’ll reap as a society.

With the passage of the IRA, solar panels remain one of the best investments a homeowner or business owner can make. Learn more about how solar systems compare to other popular investments

Compass Solar offers 0% financing to both business owners and homeowners who qualify, so you don’t have to worry about the burden of a high upfront cost. Read more about our financing programs:

• Financing Home Solar Panels through Compass Solar
• Commercial Financing through Compass Solar

To reiterate a previous point we hit on earlier, you can also put your solar panel system to work for you. If your solar panel system generates excess energy (which often occurs in the Sunshine State), you can potentially generate income selling your unused excess energy back to the electrical grid

Arguably, the single greatest benefit of solar panel systems is that your power will never run out as long as the sun rises – the sun being the Earth’s only renewable energy source.

Learn more about potential cost savings from Compass Solar

We’re always eager to share the potential cost savings – and other benefits – of solar power for small businesses and homeowners in the Northwest Florida area. To learn more, contact us.

In the meanwhile, have a look at our top reasons to go solar.

Summer 2022 has been a scorcher.

We now know without a shred of doubt, thanks to diligent research projects and large-scale investment by both the private and public sectors into tackling the issue, that human activity is driving these concerning temperature rises.

We also know that solar power is an indispensable – and, arguably, the most important – piece of the puzzle to avert the most severe and possibly existential threats posed by unchecked climate change.

Record heat in the summer of ’22

Worldwide, from China to Texas to Great Britain, unprecedentedly hot temperatures in the past few months have smashed records and wreaked untold havoc on the environment and human health:

“In Southern England, railway tracks bent from the heat. In China, the roof tiles on a museum melted. In Texas, heat and a dry spell have caused nearly 200 water main breaks over the past month.”

Australia recorded its highest temperature in modern history on the continent while Delhi, India likewise exceeded its hottest day in history in May.

This summer’s heatwaves don’t just endanger human and animal lives and wreck the ecosystems that we depend on for survival – although they certainly do that too. They also cost money:

“Extended bouts of great heat can result in more hospital visits, a sharp loss of productivity in construction and agriculture, reduced agricultural yields, and even direct damage to infrastructure. Excess mortality has an economic cost too.”

So here we have a trifecta of negative outcomes to climate change that cry out for a remedy: endangered human health, environmental destruction, and a damaged economy.

The question is: what’s driving the crisis and what can we do to stop it?

The advancing science behind ‘climate change attribution’

It’s one thing to note that the Earth is getting warmer with each passing year – but it’s another to determine what exactly is driving these temperature increases.

Climate change skeptics (who are often funded by fossil fuel interests) concede that the Earth’s climate is getting hotter, but they dispute whether those changes are caused by human activity – i.e., whether climate change is “man-made.”

That’s where the science of “climate change attribution” comes in, a term which refers to th practice of using empirical data to determine the root causes of climate change.

The science of climate change attribution has come a long way. A team of German, British, and American researchers recently published a peer-reviewed study in Advances in Statistical Climatology, Meteorology and Oceanography, for instance, that devised a method to assess how human activity drives climate change in real-time

“The framework’s multi-method approach implements one model-based and two observation-based methods to provide ensemble attribution estimates with accompanying confidence levels. The framework is designed to be computationally lightweight to allow attributable probability changes to be rapidly calculated using forecasts or the latest observations… Global analyses show that the framework is capable of producing worldwide complementary observational- and model-based assessments of how human-caused climate change changes the likelihood of daily maximum temperatures.”

For more information about climate change attribution and free access to a treasure trove of related resources, visit climateattribution.org.

There are many ways in which human activity induces climate change – like commercial agriculture and the logging industry that cause deforestation. They all require attention from public policymakers. But no industry is more responsible for climate change than the fossil fuel sector.

Burning coal and oil releases excessive, unnatural amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as a byproduct of combustion, which disrupts the natural carbon cycle and traps unhealthy concentrations in the atmosphere, which drives higher temperatures worldwide via the greenhouse effect.

Fossil fuel-induced climate change is now well-documented and no serious science disputes the facts described above.

Image source: US Energy Information Administration

The search for viable fossil fuel alternatives

Given the abundance of research that indicates an increasingly desperate need to change course and reverse our global dependency on fossil fuels, we need a solution to the climate change crisis more with each passing day.

While there are other natural energy sources like wind power and hydropower, the reality is that solar power is the Earth’s only renewable energy source.

Granted, wind and hydropower don’t emit carbon dioxide, and therefore don’t contribute to the CO2-induced climate change we documented earlier. That’s a good thing, but it’s only part of the sustainable energy picture.

Wind power and hydropower might seem limitless, but, in fact, the amount of power they might provide is restricted by the laws of thermodynamics and the principle of “free energy” – that is, the maximum amount of energy that can be wrangled within the Earth’s system and repurposed for human use.

Energy demand increases each year along with technological innovation The bottom line is that, per the growing consensus of scientists who study alternative energy, safely harnessing all the power that we need from water or wind without disrupting environmental equilibrium is not feasible in the long-term.

Capturing radiation from the sun and rendering it into usable electricity via photovoltaic (PV) technology, on the other hand – much like a plant turns sunlight into chemical energy via photosynthesis – can actually increase the amount of free energy available without contributing to climate destabilization.

More work is needed to make solar power viable at larger scales – including, most importantly, sourcing and incorporating alternative elements into solar panel design that are more widely available than the current indium and tellurium.

Nonetheless, the growing consensus is that solar power is the definitive way of the future due to the free energy issue, not wind and hydropower —  however superior they are to fossil fuels.

The future of solar power is looking bright

The solar panel industry has boomed in the last decade, and Compass Solar has been at the forefront of the sustainable energy movement.

According to the US Department of Energy, “renewable technologies accounted for 64% of all new electricity generating capacity constructed in the U.S. in 2015.”

Image source: US Department of Energy

One exciting recent development pertaining to developing solar infrastructure is the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which calls for a $300 billion investment in renewable energy, including solar power. The legislation, among other benefits, extends the investment tax credit (ITC) that gives homeowners and business owners a substantial tax break for installing solar panels on their properties.

Learn more about the financial and environmental benefits of solar power

For authoritative information regarding how solar power can benefit your wallet and protect the delicate environment that we all rely on simultaneously, contact us

Also, for more incentives to consider installing solar panels in your home or business, check out our top reasons to go solar.