Resource Conservation And Its Importance

The Importance Of Energy And Water Conservation Throughout Communities

The History Of Energy And Water Conservation

Modern irrigation techniques were influenced by ancient agricultural practices, technological innovations, and knowledge transfer. These practices have shaped modern water management, agricultural productivity, sustainability, and engineering principles, shaping effective water systems.

Unregulated use of water and energy has led to poverty and resource scarcity in many communities, while others enjoy more advantages.

In the 20th century, we made big strides in water conservation, especially during droughts. Governments introduced policies for sustainable water use, and devices like low-flow toilets and faucets became popular solutions. The push for better resource management has grown, driven by online awareness of climate and energy issues.

Recently, environmental concerns and climate change have accelerated conservation efforts. Technological advancements led to new methods for saving water and energy, like smart water meters and renewable energy. Education and policies continue to encourage eco-friendly practices to ensure future generations have access to these essential resources.

Why Must We Conserve?

Conserving energy can have many benefits for the environment and society overall. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving ecosystems, mitigating light pollution, providing economic benefits, ensuring resource security, and supporting renewable energy transition for sustainability and climate change mitigation.


Light Pollution

Urbanization and industrialization have led to a surge in light pollution. This causes harm to ecosystems, wildlife, human health, and cultural heritage. By recognizing the importance of preserving natural darkness and by implementing measures to reduce unnecessary artificial illumination. We can mitigate the adverse effects of light pollution to balance out travel patterns by certain animals such as sea turtles and even humans.

Where Are the Stars? See How Light Pollution Affects Night Skies | Short Film Showcase

Conserving energy and using it to power better lighting options are essential steps in addressing the pervasive issue of light pollution. By reducing unnecessary artificial illumination and adopting more efficient and responsible lighting practices, we can protect our natural ecosystems, preserve our cultural heritage, and reclaim the beauty of the night sky for generations to come.

Updated Light_Pollution by sdmmpadmin

Why does this matter

This map illustrates the extent of light pollution in San Diego County, highlighting a concerning trend: our emphasis on lighting rather than prioritizing energy conservation or harnessing that same energy for diverse avenues of improvement. Think of specific routes you take to go home, what do you see? Now imagine if you used the stars; this is exactly what some animals such as sea turtles and even humans do to navigate around the world. Without navigation humans and creatures will struggle to

Using The Bortle Scale, Astro Backyard.

Light pollution is read by using a Bortle scale. 9 being the highest amount of light pollution and 0 being no light pollution.

Fun Fact: Currently more than 80% of humanity is being affected by light pollution


San Diego Demographics: Health insurance

San Diego Demographics- Health Insurance (DONE BY ALLEN RISELY)

Health Insurance

This map shows concerning patterns within San Diego County, The colors represent the percentage of people aged 18-34 without insurance. The yellow shows areas where fewer people have insurance, compared to the dark purple which shows the few people without insurance. When you look at the map, you first notice that farther into the east or more rural areas have higher percentages of insurance. Higher populated areas are mainly in places with lower insurance; there is a correlation between population and insurance. The speculation I have is if a place has a higher population, there will be more people without insurance most likely due to income.

Light Pollution & Healthcare Insurance

Whats the connection?

Something I notice between the two maps is that in places with higher light pollution, more people don't have health insurance, while in more rural places there are less people who don't have health insurance. I think there is a similarity between both maps and it all boils down to cost. In more city-like areas with more buildings, cars, and lights the light pollution is higher, while more people don't have insurance.

I mentioned briefly how people should use energy differently in a way instead of just having lighting, very similar to this, I think that people need to divert certain things like money toward healthcare and even schooling, instead of more than appliances such as lights and things under the umbrella of energy consumption.

I also believe there needs to be government action done to give people better and more affordable healthcare, while also installing LED lights to limit the light pollution emitted into our beautiful sunny city. By doing this, people wont have to worry about bills or avoiding urgent medical visits due to the fear of medical costs. For the light pollution aspect, we will have lights that last longer, cost less, and are better for the environment.

What Would Be The Impact?

If the government takes decisive action to implement changes, our community can achieve a more harmonious balance. Introducing better lighting and creating more green spaces will encourage residents to spend more time outdoors, fostering a greater sense of community and well-being.

This shift towards outdoor activity can significantly improve public health by reducing common health issues, thereby decreasing the overall demand for healthcare services and insurance. Furthermore, as these improvements attract more residents and boost the city's popularity, the increased population and economic growth will enhance the city's revenue. This additional income can then be reinvested to provide even better healthcare services for everyone.


Powerville USD Data Analysis


How To Conserve Energy and Water

As the world evolves, so does society, people around the globe are switching to cleaner, renewable energy sources and finding ways to conserve water. Below are 5 important ways individuals can help conserve energy and water.

Ways To Conserve Energy


Ways To Conserve Water

Solving the problem in my house.

Water Data Collection

For two weeks, I collected data on how much water I use. The two bar graphs below show my predicted amount of gallons I would use per use vs the actual amount of gallons I used in two weeks.

This graph was made before my 14 day experiment

This graph was made after my 14 day experiment

The results of this experiment were to show how much water I use in 14 days compared to my predicted amount of water consumed per use. I can say my predicted amount to shower per use was more than what I used in total. This is good because some days I take less than a 6-minute shower.

However, when it came to washing the dishes, I used more water than expected. Even with me turning off the faucet when not actively washing I used so much water. Something I can do or try out is to use the dishwasher instead because I did not use it at all.

Conclusion

In all I used less water than I thought I would in most areas and I grew from this experiment. This experiment taught me ways I can conserve water from a general stance and from an aspect of me actively doing things to save water.


Reflection

The Energy Coalition Logo

This internship taught me lots of things, it taught me what it was like to work in an office setting under a schedule that revolved around data analysis, data collection, and mapping. We were allowed to chose our own hours which made this feel more like a job rather than a school, in a way the freedom here made me feel like an adult. Siria and Izzi never told me "Work on this" or "Make sure this gets done" No what they did was create an environment for me to not feel pressured or forced to work.

Special thanks to Siria Salas, Izzi Volonte & The Energy Coaltion for giving me this amaxzing experience.

Resources

Credits to the following:

ArcGIS Map 1

sdmmpadmin

ArcGIS Map 2

Allen Risely

5 Ways To Save Energy

EnergyStar

5 Ways To Save Water

Water Footprint Calculator

Using The Bortle Scale, Astro Backyard.

This graph was made before my 14 day experiment

This graph was made after my 14 day experiment

The Energy Coalition Logo