Energy Consumption vs. Conservation

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Reducing carbon footprints is becoming an important goal for many households, schools, and businesses. One of the best ways to do so is to reduce your energy consumption with conservation practices. Our guide explains the differences between consumption and conservation and ways you can become more energy-efficient. 

What are energy consumption and conservation?

Energy consumption refers to the amount of energy you use. When you receive your electricity bill, it will show you your monthly usage, normally expressed in kWh. The more energy you use, the higher your electric bills can be. To reduce your energy use, you’ll want to adopt energy conservation measures. 

Meanwhile, energy conservation is the process of reducing your energy use. You can achieve this by implementing energy-efficient practices like unplugging larger appliances when not in use or turning off lights when you leave the room. In turn, not only do you lower your energy bill, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint size. 

Is there a difference between energy efficiency and conservation?

While they both work to lower energy use, they go about it in different ways. Energy efficiency refers to the performance of a home component like lighting, appliances, and more, while energy conservation involves actions you take to reduce energy consumption, such as turning up your thermostat when you’re away from home. 

Some examples of both include:

• Installing energy-efficient windows, lighting, and appliances 
• Using a smart thermostat to set temperatures higher when the building is unoccupied
• Adopting energy management systems in larger structures like warehouses, schools, and office space
• Using local utility programs to reduce energy consumption

How can my utility help?

Many utilities offer programs to help their customers reduce energy usage. These companies incentivize conservation because the less energy you use, the less demand it creates on their end. One way they might do this is by offering rebates on LED light bulbs or smart thermostats, allowing you to pay less than the retail price.

Some companies also incentivize installing solar power by offering equipment or installation discounts or by buying extra energy produced by your solar panels. A major benefit of going solar is that you can increase energy independence. Your solar panel system comes with power storage, allowing you to keep power your home if an outage happens. Additionally, because solar is a green energy source, there are no carbon emissions involved in its generation.

The federal government also encourages everyone to reduce energy consumption, which is why they mandated fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and created the Energy Star program.

How can I conserve energy in my home?

Here are some tips to lower your energy use:

• Set your thermostat 7–10 degrees warmer when leaving your home in the summer and 7–10 degrees cooler in the winter (if applicable).
• Water heaters account for up to 18% of a home’s energy usage; by setting its temperature lower, you’ll use less energy.
• You can save 5% on your hot water usage by turning off the water when brushing your teeth.
• Keeping up to date on maintenance for your home’s HVAC as it’ll keep it operating in peak condition while lowering your home’s energy usage.
• LED light bulbs use 80% less energy than traditional ones.

Buying EnergyStar appliances like washers and dryers can reduce energy use by 20% when compared to non-EnergyStar ones.