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The Future
of Power Generation
So What Does the Future Hold for Florida?
May 13, 2008
For more than a decade Florida’s population has been among the fastest growing in the country. The University of Florida predicts that the Sunshine State will add an average of 209,000 residents a year between 2007 and 2010.
Florida’s electricity demand is growing faster than the state’s population. A crucial challenge facing the state is peak demand (those times when the most power is used at once, usually correlating with extreme heat or cold). In recent years, peak demand is growing faster than regular day-to-day electricity use. Regrettably, peak demand is the most expensive type of electricity. To meet the state’s growing energy needs, Florida must take action.
Currently, natural gas and coal are the leading fuels for electricity production in Florida, and each typically accounts for about one-third of generation. Florida has more petroleum fired electricity generation than any other state.
The recent energy bill that was unanimously approved by lawmakers will affect how utilities in Florida address many of the generation issues facing the state. Among other things, the bill suggests that utilities produce a minimum of 20% of power from renewable sources. It also lays the framework for a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system that allows the state to limit carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, several coal plants that were scheduled to begin construction have been scrapped or replaced with cleaner burning natural gas plants. One important aspect of the bill is that it supports the construction of nuclear plants to fill the gap left by eliminating coal.
Florida faces important decisions regarding its energy future. The current course of action calls for investments in gas and nuclear generation to make sure that the state has enough electricity to sustain its economic prosperity. While these solutions offer the benefit of little or no carbon emissions, the cost for power will be higher than with coal. Additional efforts in the arenas of energy efficiency and renewable energy must also be made to help offset the growth in demand. Only through a combination of these efforts will Florida be able to offer a clean, stable, and reasonably priced energy path, without sacrificing the state’s quality of life or economic growth.
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When to Turn Off Personal Computers
If you’re wondering when to turn off personal computers for energy savings, here are some general guidelines.
While a small surge in energy consumption occurs when a computer starts up, this hardly compares to the amount used when a computer runs for a long time. For energy savings and convenience, consider turning off the monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes, and switch off both the CPU and monitor if you’re not going to use your PC for more than two hours.
Make sure monitors, printers, and other accessories are plugged in to a power strip/surge protector. When not using equipment for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent any power drain. If you don’t use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it’s not in use.
Most PCs today reach the end of their useful life due to advances in technology long before any negative effects of being switched on and off multiple times can be seen. But as a general rule of thumb, the less time a PC is on, the longer it will “last.” PCs also produce heat, so turning them off reduces the need for air conditioning.
Power-Down or Sleep Mode Features
Many PCs come with a power-down or sleep mode feature for the CPU and monitor. ENERGY STAR® computers consume 15 watts or less in this mode–around 70 percent less electricity than a computer without power management features. ENERGY STAR monitors also have the capability to power down into two successive sleep modes, first to 15 watts and then to 8 watts–less than 10 percent of its operating power consumption.
Keep in mind that screen savers are not energy savers. Using a screen saver may in fact require more energy than not using one, and your power-down feature may not work if you have a screen saver activated. In fact, modern LCD color monitors do not need screen savers.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
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