Energy Myths, Misconceptions, and Lies

WellHome. Improve the weather inside. Energy Misconceptions, Mythsand Lies Our world is in constant motion, changing so rapidly we can hardly keep up. We are caught between two eras: a past dependent on fossil fuels and a future that will rely on renewable forms of energy. This infographic will address some misconceptions, myths and lies associated with energy. SOLAR POWER/ WIND POWER MYTHS 1 WIND TURBINES KILL BIRDS. Wind turbines are often associated with the deaths of a large number of birds, when in all actuality less than two birds per turbine, per year are killed. SOLAR PANELS PRODUCE ELECTRICITY FROM THE SUN'S HEAT. Only partially true: one type of solar panel uses the light from the Sun to make electricity, while another type of solar panel captures the Sun's heat and provides hot water or air. NORTHERN LATITUDES YOU CAN'T USE SOLAR ENERGY IN FAR NORTHERN LATITUDES. Germany is the second largest user of solar electricity in the world, and they are located between 48 and 54 degrees latitude. That is more north than any place in the U.S. There are many places in the northern part of the U.S. that have many solar heated and solar powered buildings. Since the 1980s, an island off the coast of Maine has been mostly powered by solar energy. IT TAKES MORE ENERGY TO MAKE PVS (ELECTRIC PANELS) THAN THEY CAN EVER PRODUCE. Actually, PV panels create 10 times more energy than it requires to make them. They have a two to four year energy payback, they come with 25- year warranties and are expected to produce power after 50 years. ENERGY EFFICIENCY ON THE ROAD ELECTRIC CARS DON'T GO FAST ENOUGH. Electric cars have linear power delivery characteristics that allow them to be extremely quick. At all RPM ranges, torque is instantly available without the lag that combustion engines have. The new Chevy Volt can go from 0-60 mph in SUPREME about 9 seconds and it has a top speed of 100 mph. Mileage Iulul lulm. ilmll Mileage Mileage Mileage FEDERAL MANDATES FOR HIGHER-MILEAGE CARS MEANS LESS ENERGY CONSUMPTION. Increased energy consumption leads to increased energy use, and fuel efficiency has led to increased driving and increased consumption. A Prius owner making multiple unnecessary trips who also has a long commute to work uses about the same fuel as a Hummer driver with a short commute to work. FORCING DRIVERS TO USE ALTERNATIVE FUELS WILL HELP SOLVE GLOBAL WARMING. Alternative fuels don't necessarily lead to lower greenhouse emissions; one fuel may burn cleaner with regard to one pollutant, but it is not cleaner overall. The different "life cycles" of fuels like petroleum and ethanol require different steps to get the fuel to your car, and each step requires energy and emits greenhouse gasses, with the amounts varying widely. ENERGY MYTHS AROUND THE HOME AND OFFICE APPLIANCES USE NO ENERGY WHEN TURNED OFF. Turning off your appliance does not mean it is not consuming energy. In some instances appliances use as much power off as they do when they are on; these devices are referred to as "Energy Vampires." Many electrical products, ranging from air conditioners to VCRS aren't completely switched off unless they are unplugged or turned off via a power strip. LEAVING A LIGHT ON USES LESS ENERGY THAN TURNING IT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. If you leave an incandescent light on it will use more energy than it will by turning it on and off as needed. When using a compact fluorescent light you should leave the light on if it will be needed again within 15 minutes. The lives of CFLS can be shortened by turning them on and off frequently. COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTS ARE THOSE GLARING, HUMMING, FLICKERING TUBES SEEN IN SOME OFFICES. There is actually a new generation of CFLS meant for use in the home. They fit in the same light bulb socket and they produce the same quality of light that incandescent light bulbs do, but they last up to 10 times longer and use 70% less electricity. BZZ7Z. KEEPING YOUR THERMOSTAT AT THE SAME TEMPERATURE DAY AND NIGHT USES LESS ENERGY THAN TURNING IT DOWN AT NIGHT AND HEATING YOUR HOME UP AGAIN IN THE MORNING. It actually takes more energy to maintain a constant temperature throughout the night than it does to warm up a cold home in the morning. THE HIGHER YOU SET YOUR HEATER'S THERMOSTAT, THE FASTER YOUR HOME WILL WARM UP. It does not matter if you set your temperature at 70 or 90 degrees, it will take the same amount of time to reach 70 degrees. Setting the temperature higher than you want will waste energy and increase your heating costs; the same thing applies to cooling your home. DUCT TAPE IS GOOD FOR 6. SEALING DUCTS. Duct tape usually falls off because of poor surface preparation in the dusty and dirty areas that the ducts are usually located. Therefore the durability of duct tape for sealing ducts is not very good. INSULATING THE CEILING WILL JUST CAUSE MORE HEAT TO LEAK OUT OF THE WINDOWS. Putting insulation in one part of your home will not increase the amount of heat loss through other parts of your home. However, a lot of heat will be lost through poorly insulated areas and it is important to pay attention to these areas before improving an area that is already well-insulated. The best way to insulate your home is to address all large and small leaks. ENERGY MYTHS DOMESTIC AND ABROAD MOST OF THE OIL USED IN THE U.S. COMES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST. In 2008 the U.S. consumed about 8.3 billion barrels of oil. 47% of that oil was produced domestically while about 57% was imported. 19% of the imported oil came from Canada, 10% from Mexico and less than 12% came from Saudi Arabia. 19% 47% 12% 10% ENERGY COMPANIES WILL NOT INVEST IN CLEAN RELIABLE ENERGY SO WE NEED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO DO SO. Actually, energy companies are investing large amounts of money to develop cleaner and more reliable sources of energy. From 2000 to 2007, U.S. based oil and gas companies invested about $121.3 billion on emerging energy technologies in the North American Market. THE U.S. CONSUMES LARGE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY AND THUS EMITS A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THE WORLD'S GREENHOUSE GASSES. The U.S. may use a lot of energy and emit a large portion of the world's emissions, but this is because it produces such a large amount of the world's goods and services. In 2008, the U.S. produced 30% of all the world's goods and services that were produced, and the U.S. share of global greenhouse gas emission was only about 19%. 1. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/ green-science/5-myths-renewable-energy.htm 2. www.iowasource.com/home_garden/solarmyths_0704.html 3. www.ibtimes.com/articles/75109/20101023/electric-car- myths-nissan-leaf-chevrolet-volt-department-of-energy.htm# 4. www.egmcartech.com/2010/06/18/2011-chevrolet-volt-goes- under-hot-weather-testing-in-arizona/ 5. www.pacificresearch.org/docLib/20091102_Top_Ten_ Energy_Myths.pdf 6. www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/index.html 7. www.bankrate.com/brm/news/pf/20010223c.asp 8. www.homeenergy.org/consumerinfo/myths/index.php 2)