Drought, Water & Energy Conservation (California)
In this storymap I will be presenting about the California drought and how that has affected the state and Southern part of California.
In this storymap I will be presenting about the California drought and how that has affected the state and Southern part of California.
During my time in California, I have always heard adults and others talking about the water crisis in San Diego and other areas of SoCal. Since we rely so much on the Colorado River, there was once a point where we were in serious drought and had to do everything to preserve the limited amount of water we had at that time. News sites and channels would say something along the lines of "Don't waste water" "Stop letting your sinks and shower heads run" and "Take showers between 10-15 minutes".
As a kid, I was not so sure what this had meant. I was not certain that the fact that using all that water and wasting it could be effective and horrible for the people of Southern California. That's why within the internship I have developed a greater knowledge and understanding of how to conserve energy and water and the benefits that it brings to not just myself and my family, but others in California too.
With the research and reading I have conducted, I created a 10-step action plan that would help me both save water and energy usage.
Blue Star Appliances
Within San Marcos, California I have discovered that my home city has done a very good job and is continuing to do a great job at keeping track of the conservation of both water and energy. With a total of roughly 95,000 residents, San Marcos as a community has been very diligent and careful moving forward.
In response to the pressing need for energy and water conservation, San Marcos has implemented a multifaceted approach to address these issues. Through rigorous public awareness campaigns and incentivized programs, the city has successfully reduced energy consumption by 15% over the past five years. This reduction has been achieved through initiatives such as promoting energy-efficient appliances, implementing smart metering systems, and encouraging residents and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
In response to the pressing need for energy and water conservation, San Marcos has implemented a multifaceted approach to address these issues. Through rigorous public awareness campaigns and incentivized programs, the city has successfully reduced energy consumption by 15% over the past five years. This reduction has been achieved through initiatives such as promoting energy-efficient appliances, implementing smart metering systems, and encouraging residents and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
SDG&E Action Plan
Moreover, San Marcos has made significant strides in water conservation, with a remarkable 20% decrease in water usage since the introduction of conservation measures. These efforts include the installation of water-saving technologies, the implementation of water reuse programs, and stringent water usage regulations. By prioritizing sustainability and innovation, San Marcos continues to lead the way in creating a more environmentally conscious community for current and future generations.
Main focus is San Diego County
San Marcos's action plan for water management aligns with the broader California Water Plan Update 2023, which outlines a comprehensive strategy for water resilience. The plan emphasizes: 1. **Watershed Resilience**: Enhancing local communities' ability to plan and implement climate resilience strategies in their watersheds. 2. **Infrastructure Resilience**: Upgrading built and natural infrastructure to better withstand the impacts of climate change. 3. **Equitable Water Management**: Ensuring that all communities, including those most affected by environmental changes, have access to resources and are included in decision-making processes. 4. Tribal Engagement: Collaborating with California Native American Tribes to incorporate traditional water management practices and address their unique challenges. 5. Regulatory Flexibility: Adapting regulatory frameworks to be more responsive to changing hydrological conditions. 6. Sustainable Funding: Securing continuous funding for water resilience projects at all governmental levels, ( https://water.ca.gov/Programs/California-Water-Plan/Update-2023 ). State A Roadmap to Water Management and Infrastructure for a Water Resilient Future,( https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2024/Apr-24/State-Releases-California-Water-Plan-Update-2023 ). San Marcos also participates in the state's water conservation programs, which include rebates for water-efficient appliances, incentives for landscaping with drought-tolerant plants, and public awareness campaigns to promote water-saving practices ( https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Water-Basics/Drought/Files/Publications-And-Reports/Water-Year-2023-wrap-up-brochure_01.pdf#:~:text=URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fwater.ca.gov%2F ).
These graphs, for example, are a representation of a school district in need of finding an action plan and way to collect their debt data and figure out a way to lower their use of energy and also lower the billing amount in total for the whole year. For these graphs, we were supposed to analyze and figure out what were the most, and least efficient areas within all of the schools in the district. As you can see they are labeled and color-coded so Steve Spark High School is the most efficient for electricity consumed and Steve Spark Middle School is at least deficient for most electricity consumed. For days of the bill a month, they are all equal since it just goes off the months and their days, but for gas Consumption, we can see that Powerville Middle School completely outlawed the other schools within the district we would mean it is most efficient in gas, So then this would show that Powerville middle school is least efficient in gas consumption. For the MMBTUs, there was only one significant data source for Powerville High School. For these two last Graphs, you can see that t Stephen Spark, high school and Powerville High School are both the most efficient gas bill and electrical bill amounts while PowervilleMiddle School is the lowest for both billing amounts.
Electrical engineering is a vital field in modern society, driving technological advancements and infrastructure development. It plays a crucial role in designing and maintaining power systems, driving digital devices, improving medical technology, and enhancing transportation systems. Electrical engineering also plays a pivotal role in renewable energy sources, optimizing communication networks, and driving automation and robotics. It is also vital for developing defense systems, enhancing national security, and shaping the future of technology.
Internship Reflection
Why did you choose this internship?
I chose this internship because since my career path is sort of aligned or mainly aligned with Energy, that’s why I decided to pursue this internship.
What was the best part of the internship?
I think the best part of the internship was being able to learn new positions and views that I did not know before and also the trip to SDG&E. I found it very interesting and insightful to listen to all the workers and their experiences with leading them to that career and how they all had unique journeys.
What was the most challenging part of the internship?
I think was trying to stay on task. For me I’m not really a virtual person and more a hands-on type of person. I like to experience the actual work and training, but for me this was something new and helpful to learn and experience. Sooner or later lots of work might be virtual and it’s good to know more skills and try to be skillful in any way.
What has the internship inspired you to learn more about?
I think something this internship has inspired me to learn more about his connections. From the trip, I found it really helpful that even just talking to a few workers can be impactful for your future. With those connections, you can possibly reach people you might know who can help you out a lot.
How has being a part of this internship influenced your future goals and plans?
I think it really influenced me in wanting to pursue my goals for trade and architecture. They all involve some sort of engineering aspect which is what I'm striving to work in the future with that also trying to find a job that I enjoy and helps me keep myself stable financially.