Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Reducing Energy
Consumption, while
Protecting the Environment
From megawatts to negawatts
The first priority in order to ensure the energy transition in the best way is
to reduce energy consumption. Reducing this consumption contributes to
decreasing the dependence on energy supplies and to eliminating the
corresponding CO
2
emissions, together with all other environmental
impacts resulting from the production and use of energy.
Within this context, any investment in reducing energy consumption is
most suitable for resolving all the problems previouslymentioned. Eachwatt
savedwhile keeping the same level of satisfaction for the final user represents
what can be called a 'negawatt'
1
. A negawatt has a higher value than an
additional watt, because it can help to provide the same use or service, while
avoiding the negative impact upon the environment of a supplementary
production of energy. Replacing 'megawatts' by the production of 'nega-
watts' is a most sensible choice, whenever it is possible.
The efforts in this area are very sensitive to the price of energy. The first
and then the second oil crises led to the setting up of energy saving policies
throughout the world. The subsequent counter oil crisis has resulted in a
detrimental demotivation.
1
The association N
egawatts has been created in France for promoting this concept.
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