With regard to electricity use, energy efficiency can be considered to be a subset of the larger energy-saving category known as conservation. Explain why this is true and give an example that supports your explanation.

Short Answer

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Energy efficiency refers to the usage of less energy to perform the same tasks or produce the same results, while energy conservation involves reducing the total amount of energy consumed via behavior modification, technology upgrade, or process improvement. Energy efficiency is a subset of energy conservation because using energy more efficiently is one way to conserve it. An example that illustrates this is the replacement of an incandescent light bulb, which uses 60 watts of electricity, with an energy-efficient LED light bulb which produces the same amount of light with only 10 watts. The LED light bulb is more energy-efficient, thereby contributing to energy conservation by reducing overall energy consumption without affecting the service quality.

Step by step solution

01

Define energy efficiency and conservation

Energy efficiency, in the context of electricity use, refers to the effective use of energy by consuming less power to perform the same tasks or produce the same level of output. Energy conservation, on the other hand, involves reducing the total amount of energy consumed by either modifying behavior, adopting better technology, or improving processes.
02

Explain the relationship between energy efficiency and conservation

Both energy efficiency and conservation aim to reduce energy consumption, which eventually leads to a cut down in energy costs, reduced dependence on non-renewable resources, and lowered greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency can be considered as a subset of energy conservation because it is one of the ways to achieve the goals of conservation. By making electrical devices and systems more efficient, we can save energy without compromising on the service or output provided.
03

Provide an example to support the explanation

For instance, an incandescent light bulb consumes 60 watts of electricity to produce a certain amount of light, while an energy-efficient LED light bulb can produce the same amount of light by using only 10 watts of electricity. In this example, the LED light bulb is more energy-efficient than the incandescent bulb. It has the same output, but it consumes less electricity. This scenario is a perfect demonstration of applying energy efficiency, which contributes to energy conservation by reducing overall energy consumption without affecting the quality of service.

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