Energy Fellow Internship
An exploration through energy and resource conservation, equity, auditing and more.
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Energy Conservation/Environmental Equity
As our society grows, so do the energy and resource demands. As a result, new technologies, strategies, and organizations have sprung up to combat this issue. Energy efficiency, which concerns the output of usable energy in relation to the energy put in, is rising in popularity.
Small lifestyle changes, such as shutting off lights when not in use, can be made to conserve energy and make the house more efficient at using energy. On a larger scale, organizations and changes in infrastructure change can create a larger difference in energy use. Different organizations, for example, Energy Star creates measures to encourage more efficient energy use. Using resources and energy efficiently benefits the self, community, environment, and humanity.
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Despite the large effort to push for resource conservation, there remains the pressing issue of equity among communities, regions, and beyond. Many communities are not able to access technologies or strategies that can save them resources and money, getting caught in a cycle of waste.
Environmental equity includes more than resource use, though. It covers clean transportation, climate impact, and heat equity. Racial groups are impacted differently by the many factors, can do not all have equal access to resources.
Home Auditing
By tracking my daily water and energy usage, I dissected my energy usage and identified trends and weaknesses. First, I identified all of my sources of water and energy use and kept track of my hourly use of all sources. By utilizing the kWh (kilowatt-hour) and unit rate for water, I estimated my bill. This was either done over a one week or two week period.
Household water usage is an estimation of my household (4 members) using data from my personal usage.
Moreover, through my research, I came up with strategies to implement (long-term and short-term) to conserve energy and water.
Water Conservation | Recycle water | Turn off faucets when not directly being used | Install low flow fixtures | Take shorter showers | Check for water leaks in the pipes |
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Energy Conservation | Use natural light | Turn off appliances when not in use | Use Energy Star approved appliances | Unplug appliances when not in use | Install insulation/locate any air leaks |
While some changes may seem long term, there are still plenty of ways to conserve immediately!
La Mesa Equity Report
Diving deeper into energy, water, and more specifically resource equity in the community, I analyze different aspects within my community.
Originally settled by the Kumeyaay, the La Mesa region has had a history of settlement by the Spanish, Mexicans, and finally the United States. The name itself comes from the region's geography---a flat plateau. After the United States conquered the territory, La Mesa Springs would eventually be founded in 1912, eventually becoming suburbanized after World War Two and the baby boom. Currently, La Mesa is undergoing several construction projects, inviting new businesses and services to attract and appeal to more residents.
Data from the 2010 U.S. Census
La Mesa's population and demographics vary in many ways. La Mesa's population consists of 4 major ethnic groups: White, Hispanic, Black, and Asian. The average age in the city is 36.3 years old, with 16,889 individuals under eighteen years of age, and 9,029 residents over 65.
The educational makeup of La Mesa also remains relatively even, with similar percentages on both sides of the extremes. The highest percentage being some college education, possibly due to the large youth population.
San Diego County comprises several municipal regions, with La Mesa being Southward. Between El Cajon, San Diego City, and Lemon Grove, La Mesa covers approximately 9.112 square miles.
La Mesa's yearly household income distribution resembles the national mean, with a similar amount of regions above and below the mean. The Southern area seemed to stand out from the rest, being the most economically sound.
The environment that surrounds one affects many decisions. Public infrastructure is important to many to get along with daily life. Two important ones, public transportation and recreational parks, help bring people together and can have a physical, mental, and economic impact on individuals. In La Mesa, 5.87% of residents depend on public transportation.
Comparative Energy Analysis
Using a fictional school district, I was tested in my ability to study and make decisions off of crucial data. This included manipulating data and making an informed decision on what project to implement moving forward.
District Analysis
Below is the complete district buildings' energy use modeled, as well as outside lighting and pumping.
The electricity bill for pumping and outdoor lighting are strongly correlated (near a factor of 1), with the electricity bill being strongly correlated as well (factor of 0.88).
District energy use was determined by gas and electricity usage, with gas usage only being present in the district buildings; the other two sections, outdoor lighting, and pumping, solely used electricity. Electricity proved to be the most used and costly of the two.
In the end, considering the different monthly energy costs of the district buildings, outdoor lighting, and pumping, I recommended several projects.
Add solar to a building | $220,000 | 30% energy use reduction per month for a building |
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Replace building lights with LED | $13,000 | 8% energy use reduction per month for a building |
The two projects recommended were based on budget, with the caveat that the price would need to be applied to six buildings; adding solar for a larger budget, and then swapping for LED lights for a smaller budget. Indoor electricity amounts make up the largest of total energy bills, so it would be better to have a larger percentage. Ultimately, both would bring the electric bill down a significant margin.
Energetic High School Analysis
As one of the schools in the district, Energetic High School analysis yielded similar but interesting results.
For Powerville High School, the projects recommended differed slightly due to the considerably smaller scale.
Add solar to a building | $220,000 | 30% Energy use reduction per month for a building |
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Update pool pumps | $40,000 | 12% Energy use reduction per month for pumping |
Similar to the district, building electricity contributed most to total energy costs, but pumping was also a significant factor in the bill. Therefore, to bring the costs and use of both down, I planned to implement solar and pool pumps. These would reduce the monthly cost, with solar as the most effective and expensive option.
Reflection
Environmental Engineer
Within the field we explored throughout this internship, one of many would be an environmental engineer. In the office or the field, environmental engineers develop solutions to problems relating to environmental health.
Their job typically revolves around resource use, such as pollution control. Responding to reports on issues related to the environment, designing systems to help the environment, monitoring facilities and programs related to the environment, and more allows these engineers to help the planet.
Final Thoughts
Going into the summer, the opportunity to participate in this program almost passed me, and I'm glad I didn't. I was tested in multiple ways. Over these eight weeks, working virtually was a uniquely challenging experience. The knowledge that I learned and the skills I acquired through working and finding data were so fun, and I appreciate this internship!