Energy and Air Quality
Energy is the ability to do work. When you eat breakfast and burn those calories on your morning jog-that's energy. We use energy every day-to heat and cool our homes, to get to school and work, to cook our food and light our rooms.
Many of the air quality issues we face in Maine-including acid rain, mercury, regional haze, ozone and climate change -relate directly to the production and use of energy such as electricity generation and transportation.
Renewable Energy
Most of the energy sources we use for power, heat and transportation, such as coal, oil and natural gas, come from finite sources-once we use them up they're all gone. Renewable energy sources are inexhaustable-as we use them, they continue to be replenished. Examples of renewable energy sources include: solar; wind, geothermal, and biomass.
Energy Conservation
We can conserve-use less-energy (heat or electricity) through simple everday actions, such as turning off lights and appliances when they're not in use and winterizing our homes with insulation, caulking and storm windows/doors.
Energy Efficiency
While energy conservation means reducing the amount of energy we use through behavior or lifestyle changes, energy efficiency is about saving energy by using it more efficiently. Examples include switching appliances such as washing machines and computers to more energy-efficient models or replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. You get the same result-clean laundry or brightly lit rooms-but use a lot less energy in the process.
Energy Links
Renewable Energy Policy Project
The Rocky Mountain Institute
EPAs Energy Star Program
National Biodiesel Board
US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Maine Energy Education Program
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
Maine Solar Energy Association
ISO New England
