Energy Conservation Project

Energy conservation and environmental awareness are becoming more and more a part of modern culture and society. Issues like oil prices and global warming are at the heart of this awareness. Now more than ever, individuals are making conscious decisions that take into account the environment and energy consumption. According to an LA Times article, the sales of hybrid vehicles that are powered by both gas and electrical energy have risen, with customers willing to be placed on a waiting list. Recycling and other environmentally-friendly measures are now used in the media, somewhat creating a trend toward earth-friendly decisions.



My energy conservation project takes a look at my household's vehicle gas consumption. We own three types of vehicles, including one that cannot be used in the winter. More specifically, I researched gas consumption on our second-most gas-friendly vehicle- a 1998 Ford Escort which gets approximately 31 miles per gallon on the highway, and 25 miles per gallon in the city. Commuting from Eagle River to south Anchorage 5 days a week combines the specs accurately in my report with one exception: taking into accout the idle time used to warm the vehicle up.



The winter season takes a toll on those averages. My project looks into the idle time used to warm the Escort up to operating temperature, both with and without the use of a block heater, and how much gas and money may be saved throughout the winter. For a powerpoint presentation of my results, click here.