24-1 ConservationA strategy to reduce the use of

resources through decreased demand and increased efficiency.

Less of a resource must be used and it must be used completely.

The AXV Experimental Model

One example is to carpool or use mass transit instead of driving to reduce the amount of gasoline that is used.

Advantage of carpooling is gasoline is conserved and there is less air pollution. Some Japanese cars can get up to 98 miles to the gallon (The AXV experimental model), this also helps to conserve gas.

In nature, one organism’s waste is another organism’s resource.

Waste Reduction Humans waste more resources than any

other organism on Earth. This is brought on by the “frontier ethic”

which led to a disposable society (products are used once and then thrown away: newspapers, food and beverage containers, etc.). Disposable products are the most wasteful products in our society. The frontier ethic is no longer workable because of the increase of human population.

Source Reduction The lowering of the

demand for a resource, resulting in a reduction in the amount of resource needed to satisfy that demand.

It decreases the amount of resource taken from the environment and reduces habitat destruction and pollution.

Source Reduction An example would be

to recycle all products that are recyclable.

Some states charge a deposit fee on cans and bottles, which has led to more glass and aluminum to be recycled.

Conserving Energy

Minimizing the use of energy.

Most home energy goes for heating and hot water.

Use Energy More Efficiently

Turn down heat in house.

Make sure house is insulated.

Take shorter showers (to conserve hot water)

Run dish washer only when full.

Turn off lights not being used.

Use fluorescent bulbs instead of Incandescent bulbs (least efficient).

Fluorescent bulbs use less energy and produce little heat and generate light more efficiently. They also last longer.

Air conditioners are environmentally not good. A true environmentalist most likely would not use one.

Conserving Energy Big appliances have a

energy-rating number which allows the

consumer to compare the energy efficiency of one appliance with another. Buying the appliance with the greater energy efficiency will save the consumer money and also conserve energy.