Basic 7 · Social Studies · Environmental Issues
Uses of Energy and Using Energy Efficiently
In this topic you will describe the uses of energy at home, in industry, transport and agriculture, and explain how to use energy efficiently in the home.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Describe the uses of energy in different sectors
- Explain the importance of energy to national development
- Describe ways of using energy efficiently at home
What you already know
- Sources of energy
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Environment
- Sub-strand
- Environmental Issues
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.2.1 – Examine the sources of energy
Introduction
From the early morning when we heat water for a bath to the evening when we watch television, we use energy all day long.
1. Uses of Energy in Different Sectors
| Sector | Uses |
|---|---|
| domestic (home) | cooking, lighting, ironing, refrigeration, fans, television, charging phones |
| industry | running machines in factories, such as cocoa processing, cement and aluminium production |
| transport | fuelling cars, buses, trotros, ships, aeroplanes and trains |
| agriculture | pumping water for irrigation, running tractors, drying crops, powering poultry farms |
| commerce | lighting shops, refrigerating food, running computers and banks |
| health and education | powering hospitals, laboratories and schools |
| communication | radio, television, mobile networks and the internet |
2. Energy and National Development
Energy drives development. Reliable electricity allows factories to produce goods, creates jobs and attracts investors. Hospitals need power for equipment and vaccine refrigerators. Schools need electricity for computers and evening studies. When power cuts occur, businesses lose money and services suffer, as Ghana experienced during the "dumsor" period of frequent power outages.
3. Energy in Rural and Urban Areas
In cities, most homes use electricity and LPG gas for cooking. In many rural areas, people still rely on firewood, charcoal and kerosene, although rural electrification programmes have connected many villages to the national grid. Solar lanterns and small solar systems are helping remote communities.
4. Energy and the Economy
The Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) at Tema uses large amounts of electricity from Akosombo to make aluminium. Ghana also exports electricity to neighbouring countries such as Togo and Burkina Faso. Energy is therefore both a need and a source of income for the nation.
5. Energy and Daily Life in Ghana
Think of how a typical Ghanaian day uses energy: a trotro carries workers to the city using diesel, a seamstress uses an electric sewing machine, a kenkey seller uses firewood, a student charges a phone, and a hospital keeps its lights on through the night. Every economic activity depends on energy in some form, which is why its supply and wise use matter so much.
New words
- sector
- A part of the economy, such as agriculture or industry.
- national grid
- The network of power lines that carries electricity across the country.
- rural electrification
- Bringing electricity to villages.
- power outage
- A period when electricity supply is cut.
Summary
- Energy is used in homes, industry, transport, agriculture, commerce, health, education and communication.
- Reliable energy drives national development, while power cuts harm businesses and services.
- Rural electrification and solar systems are spreading energy to villages.
Class activity: Energy Use Diary
- Record every activity in which your family uses energy for one day.
- Group them by sector and energy source.
- Share your diary with the class.
You need: Charcoal pieces, Small solar panel, Printed photographs of Akosombo Dam
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is a domestic use of energy?
- A. cooking
- B. running a cement factory
- C. flying aeroplanes
- D. mining
Show answer
Answer: cookingHome use.2. The network of power lines across Ghana is the…
- A. national grid
- B. national road
- C. energy bank
- D. power dam
Show answer
Answer: national gridElectricity network.3. Hospitals need energy to keep vaccines cold.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueRefrigeration.4. Bringing electricity to villages is called rural ______.
Show answer
Answer: electrificationGrid extension.5. State three uses of energy in agriculture.
Show answer
Answer: Irrigation pumps, tractors, drying crops (or poultry farms).Any three.6. Explain how frequent power outages affect national development.
Show answer
Answer: Businesses lose production and money, jobs are lost, and services such as hospitals and schools suffer.Development effects.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Environment
- Sub-strand
- Environmental Issues
- Indicator
- B7.1.1.2.1 – Examine the sources of energy
Introduction
Every unit of electricity or litre of fuel saved means lower bills for families and less pollution for the environment. Using energy efficiently is a simple way to help both.
1. What Is Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency: Using less energy to do the same job, without wasting it.
2. Saving Electricity at Home
| Practice | How it saves energy |
|---|---|
| switch off lights and fans when leaving a room | stops wasted electricity |
| use energy-saving LED bulbs | use much less power than old bulbs |
| unplug chargers and appliances not in use | stops "standby" power use |
| open curtains and windows during the day | uses natural light and air |
| iron many clothes at once | avoids heating the iron many times |
| keep the fridge door closed | keeps cold air in |
| buy appliances with energy labels | uses less power for the same work |
3. Saving Cooking Fuel
Cooking uses a lot of energy in Ghanaian homes. To save fuel: cover pots while cooking, soak beans before boiling, use improved cookstoves, put out the fire immediately after cooking, use dry firewood and cook several foods together when possible. Families using LPG should check for leaks and turn off the gas when not in use.
4. Benefits of Energy Efficiency
- Lower electricity and fuel bills for families.
- Less pressure on the national grid, reducing power cuts.
- Fewer trees cut for firewood and charcoal.
- Less air pollution and smoke.
- Energy sources last longer for future generations.
5. Energy Safety at Home
Safety: Do not overload sockets, do not touch switches with wet hands, keep LPG cylinders outside or in well-ventilated places, and never leave cooking fires unattended.
6. Saving Energy at School
Schools can also save energy. Learners can switch off classroom lights and fans when leaving, shut down computers after lessons, report broken taps and faulty wiring, and use daylight wherever possible. An energy monitor in each class can remind others. Saving energy at school lowers bills and allows more money to be spent on books and equipment.
New words
- energy efficiency
- Using less energy for the same job.
- LED bulb
- An energy-saving light bulb.
- standby power
- Electricity used by appliances that are switched off but still plugged in.
- LPG
- Liquefied petroleum gas used for cooking.
Summary
- Energy efficiency means using less energy without waste.
- Switching off, using LED bulbs, unplugging appliances and covering pots save energy.
- Efficiency lowers bills, protects forests, reduces pollution and conserves energy for the future.
Class activity: Home Energy Audit
- Walk through your home and list all the appliances.
- Note where energy is being wasted.
- Write five changes your family can make to save energy.
You need: Charcoal pieces, Small solar panel, Printed photographs of Akosombo Dam
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which saves electricity?
- A. switching off lights when leaving a room
- B. leaving the fridge open
- C. keeping chargers plugged in
- D. using old bulbs
Show answer
Answer: switching off lights when leaving a roomAvoid waste.2. Covering pots while cooking…
- A. saves fuel
- B. wastes fuel
- C. cools food
- D. causes fire
Show answer
Answer: saves fuelKeeps heat in.3. LED bulbs use less electricity than old bulbs.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEnergy-saving.4. Liquefied petroleum gas is shortened to ______.
Show answer
Answer: LPGCooking gas.5. State four ways of saving electricity at home.
Show answer
Answer: Switch off lights, use LED bulbs, unplug chargers, keep the fridge closed.Any four.6. Explain how saving energy at home benefits the nation.
Show answer
Answer: It reduces demand on the grid and power cuts, saves foreign exchange on fuel and protects the environment.National benefit.
Homework
- Carry out a home energy audit and write a report with recommendations.