Energy Conservation and Efficiency

Why Do We Need to Conserve Energy?

Energy sources have different effects on the environment. Many of these effects are detrimental. If we can use less energy, than we can reduce the negative impact on our environment.

	AIR: Using fossil fuels emits toxins and greenhouse gases into the air. Industrial emmissions can create polluted air that is harmful for humans to breathe. Polluted air and acid rain is also problematic for plants and animals.
	LAND: Drilling for fossil fuels requires a lot of land use and destroys natural habitats. Mining for coal severely impacts landscapes. Large dams and reservoirs impact surrounding land areas.
	BYPRODUCTS: Using nuclear energy creates radioactive waste that requires safe storage for many years. A small amount of toxic waste is also produced when making photovoltaic cells.
	WATER: Offshore drilling for fossil fuels impacts marine habitats. Mining produces highly acidic liquid that impact water resources. Dams and reservoirs change the ecosystem of rivers.