References

Energy consumption : http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/
Youtube: part one :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATybfZFkT8U&feature=player_embedded
               part two : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUuARL6_Rqc&feature=player_embedded
New York times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/business/energy-environment/31renew.html
Financial times : http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2010/06/17/chinese-government-to-further-curb-energy-consumption/
World watch : http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5346

Which energy source does China use most?

 Most of the energy production in China is comprised of coal, which in 2006 accounted for 76.7% of total energy production.  Crude oil had a 20.4%, natural gas had 3.0%, and hydro-, nuclear-, and wind-power accounted for the remaining 7.2%.
To this day, China is still mainly using coal as its main energy source.  Coal is the worst fossil fuel; it is even worse than oil!  There is no such thing as clean coal, by the way, for those of you who have heard of it.  It is completely fiction.

What has China done to reduce energy consumption?

1. China is about to get tougher on energy-intensive industries, according to Xie Zhenhua, a top official responsible for the country’s climate-change policies. Xie said the government will cap electricity supplies in some areas, and that any subsidies provided to energy-intensive industries must end immediately.
2.  Moreover, China has become the world leading producer of solar and wind technologies, however transmission losses are high for sending power over long distances to cities, and nearly a third of China’s wind turbines are not yet connected to the national grid.
   China’s commitment to renewable energy is expensive. Wind energy is still 20 to 40 percent more expensive than coal-fired power and solar power is still at least twice as expensive as coal.
3. Furthermore, China has tough new energy standards for lighting and gas mileage. 
4.  China has created a energy conservation guide for citizens to promote energy saving and reducing emissions.  The guide is printed on recycled paper and lets the citizens know how much energy each action would save as well as the associated carbon dioxide emissions. The energy savings would grow dramatically if one in every fifty Chinese—some 25 million people—made the effort to conserve.

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video coverage about China's energy use

Part 2

China has become the world leading producer of solar and wind technologies

Solar technology

Although quite expensive, the prices of these panels are starting to drop.
The best part about this is that the installation will slowly repay itself!
This means while you are feeling good about reducing your carbon footprint, you can also feel good about saving money in the long run! It will pay itself in about 10 - 15 years


Basically energy from the sun is converted into electricity through solar cells known as photo voltiacs.

COST: A rough range for upfront costs, including installation, for solar panels, inverter box, wiring, etc., is approximately $30-40,000 for a single family house, if you are looking to entire replace grid-based electricity with solar energy.  It seems expensive but remember! It will pay off in the long run.



Wind technology



Wind turbines are used to generate kinetic energy from the kinetic power of wind.

Wind turbines provide an inexpensive, self reliant way of generating clean energy.

However, there are some disadvantages with regard to birds, thunderstorms and the fact that there is not always wind to power the turbines.

Alternative (renewable) energy sources

Everyone should use alternative energy sources because it is sustainable.  They possibly hold the key to our future.They are also often called renewable energy because in a short period of time they can be renewed.  They are green and eco-friendly unlike Non-renewable energy.

Some types of alternative energy are :  Wind, solar, and Nuclear energy.

The 411 on fossil fuels

Fossil fuels: what are they? Fuels that result from the compression of ancient plant and animal life formed over millions of years. Some examples are coal, oil, and natural gas.
We use fossil fuels for electricity and power.  Although there are other forms of energy sources, fossil fuels are the easiest to obtain and we humans often like to take the easy route.
In addition, there are many devastating effects of fossil fuels.
The burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of climate change because large amounts of carbon dioxide is released.
Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels pollutes both air and water.  It also creates smog.


The depletion of fossil fuels

Another great concern is the depletion of the world's supply of fossil fuels.  This is not a matter that only concerns china it concerns THE WHOLE WORLD! 
We use these resources every day for electricity but many of us don't think about what happens when the earth's supply of fossil fuels are depeleted or run low?  We are face with the setback that the supply of fossil fuels in NOT infinite.  It is absolutely FINITE. One day, our resources will run out and that will be the end of civilization as we know it.  Even when the supply runs low, there may be calamity because people will may be at war fighting for the remaining fossil fuels. 

Some estimates say our fossil fuel reserves will be depleted in 50 years. The world will inevitably have to make the switch to reusable energy in the future.  We might as well make the switch now and conserve the rest of our remaining supply of fossil fuels! 

From the above pie graph, you can see the demand for coal and oil is very strong. This must change!

THE FACT IS THE WORLD CANNOT DEPEND ONLY ON DIRTY ENERGY.
Conserve energy for future generations!

In later posts I will briefly explain types of renewable energy that China (and other countries) can also choose to use.

How china responded to being branded the largest energy consumer

China is infamous for surpassing the United States as the largest consumer of energy.  In the year 2009 China consumed 2.25 billions tonnes of oil.  This number is 4% more than the United States.  The chinese government was unsatisfied with these statistic and argues they were incorrect.  Branding China with the name highest energy consumer really started to push the chinese government into making some changes.  These changes include shutting down  factories and using renewable energy. China is already working towards a clean energy. China has a clean energy plan and is working towards it. China invested $34.6 billion towards clean energy last year.  China is really pushing to make changes.

Welcome!!!!

The main subject of theis blog is energy consumption in China.  I chose this topic because China's industries are growing larger and they are extremely influencial.  As China's econmy is growing fast, so is its demamd for energy.  We humans have grown to heavily depend on fossil fuels for our energy demands.  Fossil fuels accounts for 95% of the world's total energy.  China, in particular, is a huge energy consumer.  Fossil fuels have so many negatives (which I will name in later posts), one of which is that they will eventually run out!

China can make a point to the world that if even the biggest energy consumer can change their ways, all the other countries should be able to do so too!