Turning off light switches and unplugging appliances could be all it takes to save almost 500 lives and prevent some 127,000 asthma cases annually, according to a new study on what can be saved, besides money, with increased energy efficiency.
Many of those health improvements are based on a projected 12% increase in summertime energy efficiency clustered around states like Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Those states had populations near power plants now using coal, the new research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science & Technology, found.
The research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison determined the national public-health benefits could come with better-used energy. It said 475 lives could be saved and 127,600 asthmas cases could be avoided by increased energy efficiency, which leads to fewer power plant emissions and cleaner air.
That equates to an estimated $4 billion annually saved on medical expenses, missed work and other costs connected to those respiratory-related illnesses, according to the study, using Environmental Protection Agency data on the economic and health costs of pollution.
The study said that, even though power-plant emissions have dropped since the 1970 Clean Air Act, many Americans still have to breathe poor quality air that’s below EPA standards.
“We know energy efficiency already offers cost savings,” said David Abel, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. “But capturing the non-energy benefits makes it even clearer it’s a win-win opportunity.”
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Indeed, increased efficiency might be on the horizon, one federal agency estimates.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects energy intensity, the amount of electricity used from a household or unit of commercial floor space, could be on a slight decline in 2050 as newer, more efficient equipment and appliances replace older, power-gulping models.
The same changes will apply to light bulbs as traditional incandescent bulbs are replaced by more advanced versions, like light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Meanwhile, 30 states and the District of Columbia adopted energy efficiency policies as of July 2017, the EIA noted.
But a full panoply of government policies on energy efficiency isn’t a given. President Donald Trump’s administration has rolled back rules from the previous administration that it believes are hindering businesses, or confusing them. For example, administration officials last month ended talks with California regulators about vehicle mileage standards.
Regardless of what government officials decide to do or not do, consumers can make their own decisions about energy usage. LED light bulbs can save a household between $70 and $90 a year, according to the Consumer Federation of America.
Another way to conserve electricity: Look for appliances and electronics with the ENERGY STAR label. A washing machine with the government-backed symbol, for example, uses one-third less water and one-quarter less energy than standard models, the consumer advocacy group said.
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