Wasted Energy is a Major Cause of Environmental Damage

Nowadays, energy use has become a crucial part of our lives as we rely on it for a wide range of activities. While we cannot do without energy, there is a need for us to utilize it effectively. This is because wasted energy is known as a major cause of environmental damage.

What does wasted energy mean?

Before shedding more light on how wasted energy is causing environmental damage, it is essential to know what wasted energy means. It is worth remembering that we can neither make nor destroy energy. But, it can be transformed or transferred through different means. When energy is not transformed or transferred in a useful or effective way, such energy is referred to as wasted energy.

On a micro-scale, some of the causes of wasted energy include the use of old, inefficient appliances or equipment, poor energy management systems, HVAC issues, and poor lighting practices. There are several other domestic and industrial processes that lead to wasted energy.

Environmental damage of wasted energy

Wasted energy causes a lot of damages to our environment. Some of this environmental damage is highlighted below:

· Climate change

Perhaps the most significant environmental damage of wasted energy is climate change. Due to an increase in the amount of wasted energy, there has been a rise in the emission of methane and carbon into the atmosphere. Over time, the accumulation of fossil fuel gasses causes damage to our climate. This can be experienced through extremely cold winters and very hot summers.

Our environment is experiencing significant warmth that is causing a plethora of problems for humans and other things on our planet. Some of these problems affect our health. And, coastal cities are being threatened due to the polar ice caps melting.

All these factors accumulate to make our environment less conducive. If they persist, they could make many parts of the globe inhabitable.

· Pollution

Thermal pollution, air pollution, and water pollution are the main pollutants. These pollutants are all associated with wasted energy. They all lead to the emission of waste materials into the environment.

Fossil fuel combustion usually produces air pollutants that damage the air in most urban areas. In addition, there is a strong relationship between wasted energy and water pollution. For instance, oil spills contaminate water bodies during petroleum productions. Similarly, coal mining, results in wasted energy which can cause water pollution as well as air pollution. It can also change the flow of groundwater and, sometimes, lead to the death of aquatic organisms.

During the activities involved in coal mining, energy is not used effectively; hence, it has a significant environmental impact that can affect many living things.

It should be noted that wasted energy is quite common in the US where two-thirds of generated energy is wasted. Even in other countries, a large percentage of the energy produced is not used efficiently; hence, it has a notable effect on the environment.

Having noted that wasted energy is a major cause of environmental damage. There are tons of things we can do to save energy and thereby reduce the impact. It is necessary for industries and individuals to learn how to produce and use energy more efficiently. This, in turn, will lower the number of greenhouse gasses and several other pollutants. A shift to the use of renewable energy sources like wind, geothermal, and solar can also play a key role. They will reduce the amount of wasted energy as well as eliminate other issues associated with fuel combustion.