**6. Consumer behavior**

200 Fossil Fuel and the Environment

China has rapidly increased its consumption to become the second largest largest fuel consumer in the world. Quite appropriately, there have been studies of saving energy in China also (YunXia, 2008). Developing and Third world countries, such as Bangladesh,

In developing countries, the discrepancies between demand and supply may cause rolling blackouts, otherwise known as load shedding. This inability to meet load requirements induces consumers such as households and offices to install back-up gnerators and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies). Back-up generators, create further problems, such as

1. Back-up generators require capital investment by consumers, likely to be much greater

4. Back-up generators require diesel whereas power plants have the potential to operate

5. Back up generators bring exhaust and pollution to the premises of the consumers,

6. Back-up generators create greater dependence on diesel or gas, which may create further fuel shortages for power station, creating even more black-outs. This may induce consumers to invest more on back-up generators, creating a vicious cycle

7. Back-up UPS are at best about 50 % efficient, and therefore end up consuming twice as

8. Back-up UPS may contribute to a similar vicious cycle as back-up generators, inducing

Energy Shortage

Greater public Investment in Generators

Fig. 5. The vicious cycle, where rolling blackouts induce more installation of generators, which consume more diesel or gas, otherwise usable in more efficient power stations.

Rolling Blackouts

2. The efficiencies of such back-up generators are much lower than that of power plants. 3. The smaller genertors normally operate at less than full load, causing the efficiencies to

present some different factors on the issue of saving energy (S. Khan, 2011, 2008).

**5.4 Back-up generation and power supplies** 

than the extra investment required in power stations.

rather than having them at the distant power station.

Inherently inefficient Generators consume more diesel or gas

much electricity from the power stations.

even greater rolling black-outs (figure 6)

**5.3 Asia** 

those described below.

be even lower.

shown below

on the more available coal.

In spite of all the energy-saving programs, there is great scope of reducing energy consumption by individuals. Since about 1981, surveys have indicated that a significant portion of North Americans believe the energy problem is real and serious. Since 1977, state agencies and universities in Virginia have been funded to provide energy conservation information to the general public (Geller, 1981). Large portions of the public also support relatively strong conservation policies. Two major reasons cited for conserving energy have been to save money, and to solve the energy problem (Marvin, 1981).

Energy may be saved by improving consciousness about the energy consumption of appliances and equipment. Along these lines, there have been attempts at "smart metering" which gives gives real time energy consumption information (Ehrhardt-Martinez, 2010). In Bangladesh, pre-paid metering has been implemented, which stops energy, when the prepaid amount runs out.

According to a preliminary survey in developed and underdeveloped countries (S. Khan, 2011), offices and public buildings were more likely to have lights and air-conditioners on needlessly. Shopping complexes were found to use lights much brighter than required. The preliminary surveys indicated that air conditioning was used throughout the year, even during months or days, when plain ventilation was sufficient for health and comfort. Cooling fans were not installed or used, when in conjunction with outside ventilation, they were clearly sufficient to counter the warm weather.

The essence of saving energy programs is changing consumer behavior. Awareness must be created that saving energy will prolong availability of fossil fuel, and help keep prices low.
