The Impact of Social Awareness in Reducing Energy Consumption - Term Paper Example

?The Impact of Social Awareness in Reducing Energy Consumption A Term Paper submitted for ..... - 16 May Written by .... Acknowledgement Keepingour environment is a crucial concern that is needed to be analysed by people all around the world. The earth has become older and it seems that we have run out of time to save its sustainability. Actions are required to do in urge and it is our responsibility to make concrete things. This term paper is one of the ways to realize an action, as it is hoped to be guidance to whom that think about the importance of saving environment. This term paper has a topic of “minimizing energy consumption by developing social awareness in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”and I think it is very important to present this idea. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known as the largest oil producer in the world and domestically its primary energy demand has been high as well. In my opinion, using too much energy without proper strategy and analysis could make the source decreases. The whole world might be worried about this matter too because the future of energy is still being questioned. The problem is energy like oil is not renewable one. As a Saudi Arabian student and a promising engineer that might be a decision maker, I am obligated to be concerned about the continuous growth of energy consumption in our country that has not been encountered seriously. It is a well known fact that oil is not a renewable source of energy that some day it will dry out. This unsustainable consumption has to be minimized. One way to minimize the matter is by developing social awareness. Therefore, I hope this report will be another consideration to lighten up the reader`s mind of this issue. Abstract This study aims at analysing the facts happen in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about its use of energy consumption. It has been found that the trend of the use has increased as time goes by. The energy that has become main concerns are oil, gas and electricity. As there are matters occur after the trend of using energy increases, the writer decides to enlighten the readers with solutions of building social awareness to reduce the energy consumption. The purpose of this study is to remind people that it is crucial to minimize the consumption of energy. In this case, it is for the sake of future`s time. The methodology used in this study is internet research in which the writer browses information and pictures that are needed to complete the study. As a result, it can be concluded that building social awareness through many ways like television advertisements to social networks usage can be maximum campaign to achieve the purpose. In this case, how to make a better future by reducing the use of energy consumption. Table of Contents Acknowledgement .....................................................................................................................2 Abstract......................................................................................................................................3 Table of Contents....................................................................................................................4-5 Introduction................................................................................................................................6 1.The Continuous Growth of Energy Consumption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....................7 1.1.Background: Problems of Energy Sustainability........................................................7-8 1.2.The Continuous Growth of Population..........................................................................9 1.3. Dependence to Light Bulbs on Decoration..............................................................9-10 1.4. The Unnecessary Over Use of Electricity...................................................................10 1.5. Lack of People Awareness..........................................................................................11 2. Developing Social Awareness..............................................................................................11 2.1. Media Approachment............................................................................................12 2.1.1. Advertisements on Television............................................................................12 2.1.2. Discussion on Television Programs...................................................................12 3. Using Social Network..........................................................................................................13 3.1. Facebook and Twitter............................................................................................13 4. Establishing Campaigns.......................................................................................................14 Conclusion................................................................................................................................15 Reference page.........................................................................................................................16 Appendices..........................................................................................................................17-24 Outline.................................................................................................................................25-30 The Healthy Environment Project............................................................................................31 Introduction Energy is one of the factors of the movements in this life. Many aspects need energy in order to survive; a life without energy could be terrible situation especially to our modern society. Can you imagine several conditions such as; offices and houses without electricity, daily activities without transportation facilities, There are no planes or ships to reach other cities and countries, cellular phones without battery, or even no energy to support internet connection. I believe those conditions could be the worst situations which people in this world do not want to face. It can be said that energy has an essential role to support every single thing in this life. One of the main energies needed in this life is oil; it is rather to be important because oil can be the main source for many purposes. As the biggest oil producer in the world, Saudi Arabia also has high rate of consumption to spend its oil. Additionally, the number of consumption even increases dramatically. The demand of primary energy in Saudi Arabia is actually expected to have an increase by 3% per year, doubling by 2030. This rate becomes lower than 5.5% experienced since 1990 regarding slower expected growth in population and industrial output. Entirely, Saudi Arabia`s primary energy needs are from oil and natural gas, but the domestic energy use is dominated by fossil fuels (The WEO 2005). Seeing the reality elaborated above, this report will intensively investigate the reasons of the dramatic growth of energy usage, and how can we minimize it by developing social awareness. Social awareness is an essential action to be taken; since if the macro condition could not prevent the matters, people are advised to take part to reduce the energy consumption. Even little action could give changes and influences for a better future. 1.The Continuous Growth of Energy Consumption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 1.1.Background: Problems of Energy Sustainability. As an important part to support people`s lives, energy has been used for decades without consideration to think of its future and suistainability. Saudi Arabia has proven itself to produce 262 billion barrels of oil, and it has made a comfort zone for their living situation. Becoming the largest oil producer in the world might be a factor that the people do not want to be efficient to consume energy provided. Some might not realize that energy has limited time; even though it seems that there is no problems at all nowadays, but they never know what can be occured in years to come. The question is; will the energy exist as much as we they have now? The answers could probably be analysed through data of energy usage as I elaborated below. In 2003, oil reached 62% as Saudi Arabia`s primary energy demand and the percentage is tried to be reduced to 56% in year 2030. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia`s domestic oil demand took 1.9mb/d also in 2003, in which it is accounted for 19% of production, and is designed to reach increase by 3.7mb/d in 2030. In 2004, oil exports was in position of 8.3 mb/d; it was even expected to rise by 2010 in number of 9.3mb/d and 14.4 mb/d in 2030. Furthermore, oil investment needs have an estimation to be at $174 billion over 2004-2030, and it could be more than 80% for upstream projects (The WEO 2005). Natural gas resources are also one of the abundant production that Saudi Arabia has; it is the fourth largest in the world. Under the reference scenario, gas production is determined to grow fast; from 60 bcm in 2003 to 86 bcm in 2010 to 155 bcm in 2030. The whole amount of this gas are targeted to be used in its domestic market for industrial usage, power generation and water desalination. The capacity of current gas processing is approximately 90 bcm per year. The needs of gas investment in Saudi Arabia are estimated to be at $48 billion over 2004-2030, which are mostly in the upstream sector (The WEO 2005). Electricity generation in Saudi Arabia took 153 TWH of its position in 2003 and it was above than half based on oil use. The expectation for electricity generation is to grow by 3.9% per year between 2003 to 2030. There will be an increase of installed capacity from 35 GW in 2003 to 102 GW in 2030. The share of natural gas in the generation mix is analysed to have an increase from 46% in 2003 to 66% in 2030. Then, water desalination is an integration to have more than half of these capacity additions. Electricity has its tariffs particularly for residential customers who are subsidised in a big amount. Based on its application, charging tariffs for electricity obviously does not reflect costs and does not promote efficient use. It can be concluded as challenge since the growth goes rapidly. Saudi Arabian power sector has investment requirements that will amount to $110 billion over 2003-2030 (The WEO 2005). The increase trend that has happened to energy usage in Saudi Arabia should bring us to an awareness that those are not only data, but facts to be thought deeply. If we let any more worst facts occur, I can predict that the life-span of energy will not be as long as it is hoped to be. Everyday we keep using energy and we might think simply in which by paying the bills would solve the problems; but it is not that simple! When we consume without a mindset to save for tomorrow, I am not sure that our children will have a comfortable life. Moreover, I do not hope to regret or to hear our descendant complaint to us and say “Why did not you do some actions if you knew that important energy sources are not renewable?”. There are actually many solutions that have been discussed by many people of how to reduce the use of energy consumption. People can do activities from monitoring energy consumption, replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights, choosing “Energy STAR” appliances, using less water to using window treatments to control heat loss and heat gain (Revelle and Galland 1-5). Those kind of activities are concrete enough, but still there must be pattern to be communication ways, so that people will realize and put bigger awareness to this issue. 1.2.The Continuous Growth of Population In sociology, population refers to a collection of human beings and demography is a sociological discipline which entails the statistical study of human populations (“Population” 2). Based on that understanding, if in one demography there is a growth of population, more energy is used to support the whole population`s lives. Recently, growth of population is not something that is easy to avoid. As a matter of fact, the solution could not be how to reduce population, but I think it is more to how to build social awareness. 1.3. Dependence to Light Bulbs on Decoration 1.5 volts to about 300 volts are the amount of energy used by turning on the incandescent light bulbs which are produced in a wide range of sizes. The light bulbs have no external regulating equipment and have a low manufacturing cost. They even work equally well on either alternating current or direct current. The implication is that light bulbs are spreadly used in household and commercial lighting, for portable lighting and for decorative or advertising lighting (“Incandescent Light Bulbs” 2). Each of light bulb may be low in consuming the electricity, but if we sum the whole country at the same time when they are using light bulbs, a big amount of electricity usage could appear. People in recent time have tremendous dependency in using light bulbs; for example, one person who occupies one room, he tends to turn on light bulbs every time without thinking whether he needs them or not. Some cliche excuse like afraid of dark could be spoken out, but if people stay still in this kind of behaviour, electricity has been wasted a lot. 1.4. The Unnecessary Over Use of Electricity Have you ever realised, how many times you stay awake over a night and let the television watches you when you are accidentally fall asleep? Why don`t you remember how often you leave your charger device on the electricity contact after you have finished charging your cellular phone. Do you think is it important to turn on all the lamps at all sides of your house, even though there is no one using certain rooms?. Some clumsy behaviour might seem ordinary, but related to electricity, it would not be ordinary anymore. People should have realised that by letting electricity to be over use without purpose is not a good behaviour to the environment. Being careless is not cool and it is not a trend. Put it in your mind carefully “Why should you waste when you can still save?”. I believe if people have hearts, they know what is exactly to do if they want to help saving the environment. 1.5. Lack of People Awareness What were discussed in point 1.3 and 1.4 have shown us some behaviours that reflect people who are not aware to environment matters. It is important to be noted because people`s awareness could be a maximum solution to be basic starting pathway to create better future. Government or scientists can have great ideas of how to reduce energy consumption, but if the people themselves do not apply proper habits in daily lives, I can assume that we can do nothing to minimize the problems. Lack of people awareness can be happened because of not enough education received formally and informally. At schools, teachers pay attention more to academic activities rather than building awareness of current issues. In this case, sometimes solving problems of current issues could be more important; current issues mostly influence our real lives, while academic activities are only for personal achievement. Therefore, we should build people awareness as soon as possible, especially to awake them about the importance to reduce the use of energy consumption. Otherwise, energy might be in distinction one day in the future. 2. Developing Social Awareness To start developing social awareness, a self actualization is needed. Everyone needs to express himself by becoming, at least, leader to himself. Leaders – at their best – are `living symbols` of a particular set of values that the followers subscribe to, enabling an almost spiritual feeling of being part of something greater than oneself (Smith 2). It is observed that by trying to become leader who has values, there is tendency that other people will likely to follow. In this case, if someone has started to try to be leader to reduce the use of energy consumption, there will be good future prospect that many other people will follow. 2.1. Media Approachment 2.1.1. Advertisements on Television Television can be said as the cheapest entertainment that almost everyone affords to buy. Recently, television has provided 24-hour-entertainment package to be enjoyed. An individual can choose any favourite television shows, and since there are varities of the shows, the advertisements are also mushrooming. During these times, advertisements are used to obtain profits in business, while we know that not every Advertisement shown is useful for everybody. For example, an Ad of anti-aging cream would only attract women of 30 years old and above, little children would not notice anything of seeing it. So, why don`t we use this chance to use Advertisement on television to do campaign on energy consumption use reduction. In this case, electricity or any energy usage matters are definitely touch all ages because energy is something that they use everyday. We can make a touchful implication inside the Ad, and show people what will be the consequences in the future time if we do not take any actions due to energy consumption reduction. 2.1.2. Discussion on Television Programs It is a total waste if television programs are only used to discuss politics, economy, rumors, culture, et cetera. Those things cannot be runned if the world lacks of energy. Therefore, it is crucial for television programs – for instance, talk show – to discuss more how to reduce the use of energy consumption. Talk shows are rather detailed and they will help people to digest what to do in order to make a better future of our energy. 3. Using Social Network 3.1. Facebook and Twitter For some people who love social network, they spend most of the time to be online rather than get in touch with their real social life. This kind of habit can also be used to realize them about how important it is to minimize the use of energy consumption. We can take them slowly to a discussion on group or fan page that it is better to put a concern on this matter than just use social network to do gossiping, as an example. Direct conversation or discussion that happens on social network like facebook and twitter can be easier because people are being influenced without real notification that they are actually being warned. Observing that social network has an impactful position to inspire other people, as a student who also concerns with our earth future time, I have created a web page on facebook named `Healthy Environment`. It is a project in this term that discusses the ways to keep our environment clean and healthy. Of course, when i have started to do that web page, i have thought to also remind people about reducing the energy consumption later. Starting with the issue of healthy environment might be more attractive and next I can move on to make the energy campaign on the web page. 4. Establishing Campaigns To show people that there are real actions to help reducing the use of energy consumption, campaign is one of the solutions. We can do street acts that contain warning in the middle of the street; or in minimum we can make posters, so that people will notice about the issue wherever they go. Of course, the design of the posters should be attractive and memorable; not to forget some touchy words to always remind people. (poster of "Moulin Rouge - La Goulue", Toulouse-Lautrec, 1891) In the poster above, it can be seen that poster has been a part of doing maximum campaign and promotion since hundred years ago. “For over two hundred years, posters have been displayed in public places all over the world. Visually striking, they have been designed to attract the attention of passers-by, making us aware of a political viewpoint, enticing us to attend specific events, or encouraging us to purchase a particular product or service (Gallo). Analyzing Gallo`s statement, poster can be an effective campaign tool as its function has been in its own existence since a long time ago. Conclusion It is inevitable that modern life needs energy to be used for daily activities. All of the movements in this world have also put a tremendous dependence on energy consumption. Seeing the condition like in Saudi Arabia that energy consumption tends to increase, it does not mean that people have to stop using energy. On the other hand, people still need to remember that some energy sources are not renewable one. To overcome this matter, a solution is needed to be a concrete action. One of the possible solutions is by building social awareness. When people aware, they will understand what to do in reducing energy consumption. By being in awareness, the whole unity of society will help to avoid waste of energy used. The population is rising as time goes by, so the use of energy consumption also gets affected. So, there is no other way than educate people to be efficient in using energy they need. Building social awareness from many ways like from television advertisements to social network usage could also be the ways to educate people indirectly. In conclusion, as this report has offered solutions regarding building people`s social awareness, I do hope that those solutions could help to minimize the use of energy consumption. Social awareness is essential because little part that gathers would make more impacts rather than waiting to the authorities to do actions. If we start from ourselves to pay attention on this matter, I believe there will be better future for us and our children to live comfortably and far from solicitous. Reference Page Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Population. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Web, 16 May 2011. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population>. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Incandescent Light Bulb. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Web, 16 May 2011. . World Energy Outlook 2005: Fact Sheet-Saudi Arabia. Will Saudi Arabia Remain the Largest Single Oil Producer in 2030?. 2006. Web, May 16 2011. . Guidline Notes. Connectors Presentation Guideline. The Climate Change Project Indonesia. 2010. Ezine Articles. Smith, Andy. Social Awareness and Leadership. 8 August. 2007. Web, May 17 2011. . Reducing Energy Consumption. Revelle, Eleanor and Ellen Galland. Steps Any Homeowner Can Take to Save Energy. April. 2007. Web, May 17 2011. < http://revelle.net/lakeside/lakeside.new/steps.html>. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Poster History. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Web, 17 May 2011. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poster>. Appendices Condition in Jakarta – Indonesia (present time) Improper city regulation could also affect inefficiency to use energy. By looking to this picture, I believe you can imagine how much energy has been wasted on the road. Social awareness needs to be built, so people will prefer public transportations than personal cars. Fossil fuel combustion for industry needs is also a major contributor of green house gases to the atmosphere. The energy generation sector contributes up to 36% of green house gas emissions, while manufacturing/goods industry sector contributes up to 21%. Awareness needs to be spread to the factory owners to minimize this problem. The ‘worst water crisis in California history’ took its toll on Lake Oroville one of California’s largest reservoirs -shown in this picture at only 29% capacity, the lowest since 1977. Too much using energy would also influence water crisis. This photo – taken by a volunteer worker on the scene – encapsulates the extraordinary circumstances around the mega fires in Australia. The fires destroyed the entire town of Marysville in Victoria. The death toll from these fires (in February 2009) is 209 people. The damage to wildlife has not been quantified, it is impossible to quantify the suffering and upheaval incurred by families and communities. There are an estimated 20,000 Polar Bears in the wild and they depend upon the arctic weather for their livelihood. Today, there are many accounts of Polar Bear, global warming deaths attributed to drowning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey Office, reduction in sea ice in the Arctic can see a loss of 2/3rds of the entire word’s Polar Bear population over the next 50 years. If we do not have social awareness to reduce energy usage, we would kill others` habitat. Hurricane is also one of the consequences after people waste a lot of energy and do not consider the impact to the world. This graph simply explains what the likely scenarios are. It is based on recent information from the UK’s Met Office. The graph explains simply what will happen, globally, under four climate change abatement models which are on the table The red arrow shows the projected temperature rise (the figure to the left) and percentage emissions will increase by - if no action is taken. The yellow arrow shows the projected temperature rise (the figure to the left) and percentage emissions will increase by - if action is delayed until 2030. The blue arrow shows the projected temperature rise (the figure to the left) and percentage emissions will increase by - if action starts at 2010, but slowly. The green arrow shows the projected temperature rise (the figure to the left) and percentage emissions will increase by - if rapid action starts at 2010. Outline The Impact of Social Awareness in Reducing Energy Consumption Purpose statement: Concerning what has happened to the oil and energy consumption in Saudi Arabia, concrete actions must be done. As we all have known that energy like oil is not a renewable one, but the trend has shown that the usage steadily increases. If issue like this never be solved, it is predicted that years to come will not be a prosperous future for humanity to enjoy energy usage. To minimize the use of energy consumption, there has to be solutions. Building social awareness is one of the solutions that might be effective to help the future conditions. Media, social network and campaigns are the ways to implement the real social awareness among people. As modern life society depends too much on energy, there are responsibilities for us who still pay attention to make them realize; the future’s destiny is on us. Introduction: Life and its people on it have movements, it is not strange anymore when people put their dependency on energy. It seems that they cannot live without energy usage; and even they might find excuses to keep using energy as much as they want. One of the examples is what has occured in Saudi Arabia in which the number of its energy consumption increases dramatically. Even there is prediction that the number will keep increasing until 2030. Well, do you think that we only prepare for another 19 years? And let the rest times on earth pass without enough energy sources? Seeing this issue, it is really important to make a balance between the increasing number of energy usage and people`s social awareness. It is hoped that this report is able to open up people`s mind to reduce energy use. 1.The continuous growth of energy consumption in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When people have got used to certain life situation in which they can use energy as much as they want, usage reduction will not be a preference for them. In country like Saudi Arabia, the energy usage has never been decreased, it even keeps increasing. Many people think that by completing their responsibility like paying electricity bills has overcome the problem of energy resources. This understanding has already been a misconception and actions are required to be applied as soon as possible. 1.1.Background: problems of energy suistainability. Supporting details: Comfort zone of people`s lives in using energy. Oil as Saudi Arabia`s primary energy demand. Natural gas usage has increased as well. Electricity generation position and its subsidised tariffs. Using energy is not simply as paying bills. Concrete actions still need pattern of communication ways (through media, social network and campaigns) 1.2.The continuous growth of population. Supporting details: Population growth cannot be avoided, so building social awareness is important to run together with the growth. For example, one demography has grown it means that the energy sources will be used more than previously. 1.3.Dependence to light bulbs on decoration. Supporting details: Light bulbs are widely used for many purposes. (from household to advertising needs) People tend to be inefficient to use light bulbs.(let the light bulbs on in a room with nobody inside) 1.4.The unnecessary over use of electricity. Supporting detail: People`s clumsy behaviours that affect the energy use: let television keeps on every night and people fall asleep in front of them. 1.5.Lack of people`s awareness. Supporting detail: People`s awareness plays important role to solve the issue of energy consumption. (as leaders to themselves, they should regulate some disciplines until they can influence other people). To conclude, to help reducing the energy consumption use, it is not appropriate if we blame each other. Therefore, as humans who have leadership talent, we should do concrete actions and try to influence our surroundings. 2. Developing social awareness. Social awareness is a pattern which it can broaden people`s horizon. Some mistakes done by certain people cannot always be blamed as their faults. Perhaps, the environment has never made actualization to important issues like energy usage. That is why it is important to develop it widely. Supporting detail: Self actualization through building leadership mindset (start from ourselves and next time keep on giving influence to others). 2.1.Media approachment. 2.1.1.Advertisements on television. Supporting detail: Television as the cheapest entertainment will give opportunity to widely spread the social awareness (through advertisements on every channel, so all ages will receive the social awareness message). 2.1.2.Discussion on television programs. Supporting detail: Talk shows can be used to build social awareness deeply (talk shows rather be more detailed, so it is a big opportunity to help people digest the importance to reduce energy usage). In conclusion, media has been provided for society since a long time ago. It will be very efficient if the social awareness is built to make people act. 3.Using social network. Social network has been a tremendous trend that also changes people`s habit. People tend to spend most of the time to get online on social network. Topic discussed on the social network always makes people interested about. This fact can also be opportunity to realize the social network users about this issue. 3.1.Facebook and Twitter. Supporting details: People`s habit to use social network will be a chance to make social awareness influence.(making discussion group to build social awareness) Creating web page named `Healthy Environment` on facebook.(My own web page as project). It is important to change the purpose of social network; from a place to just chat to a place to share knowledge. Of course, in this case, knowledge of energy usage awareness. 4.Establishing campaigns. Campaigns seem more aggresive and usually the activities are more convincing to people. Doing oration by mentioning keywords can help people to have their social awareness of energy usage. Supporting details: Campaign using poster as a solution to warn people (put in any places available for posters). Poster as historical tool to make influence to people everywhere (inspired by hundred year posters that could be efficient way of promoting). Conclusion: Energy is something inevitable if it is related to people`s use in daily activities. Building social awareness is a solution to avoid energy being wasted, and also to make a balance due to growing population. So, if there is still movement to spend energy, our duty is to remind our surroundings. Let us start from ourselves to create better future. “The Healthy Environment Project.” This is a web page on facebook about how to get involved in saving our environment. I established this facebook page in order to put social awareness, so many people will be interested to minimize the usage of energy and water. The web page also has videos talks about how to help the environment due to present condition on earth; which I believe it would be interesting. Furthermore, this is also a real project in which I put posters in the university to remind people to minimize energy use that will give positive impacts on the environment. There also some handy instruments used for this project. I hope that in the future, there will be more people who are interested to do this kind of project and help to save our earth and environment. Read More