Benefits & Limitations of Energy Resource Management Strategies (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note

Benefits & limitations of energy management strategies

Reducing consumption

Benefits of reducing consumption

• Lowers energy bills for households and businesses

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by using less electricity and fuel

Limitations of reducing consumption

• Relies on people changing their behaviour, which can be difficult

• Some people may not be willing or able to cut their energy use

Insulation

Benefits of insulation

• Reduces heat loss, so homes need less heating in winter

• Provides long-term savings by lowering energy demand

Limitations of insulation

• High upfront cost, especially for older homes

• Installation can be disruptive if roofs, walls or floors need major work

Energy-efficient devices, including vehicles and electrically propelled vehicles

Benefits of energy-efficient devices and vehicles

• Use less electricity or fuel, reducing total energy demand

• Fully electric vehicles produce no exhaust emissions, improving air quality

Limitations of energy-efficient devices and vehicles

• Energy-efficient appliances and electric vehicles can be expensive

• Electric vehicles need charging points, which may be too slow to be convenient, or may not be widely available

Exploiting existing energy resources

Benefits of exploiting existing energy resources

• Increases energy security by using local energy sources

• Upgrading old power stations and grids reduces energy waste

Limitations of exploiting existing energy resources

• Greater use of fossil fuels increases emissions

• Improving infrastructure is costly and time-consuming

Education on energy conservation

Benefits of education on energy conservation

• Encourages long-term behaviour change in homes, schools and workplaces

• Low-cost strategy that can reach large numbers of people

Limitations of education on energy conservation

• Not everyone listens or changes their actions

• Education alone cannot reduce demand without supporting policies

Transport policies

Benefits of transport policies

• Improved public transport reduces car use and fuel consumption

• Cycle lanes and pedestrian zones lower emissions in busy areas

Limitations of transport policies

• Some areas lack reliable public transport, making it hard for people to reduce car use—public transport improvements require high investment

• Some measures (such as congestion charges) may be unpopular

Battery storage

Benefits of battery storage

• Stores excess renewable energy for use during peak demand

• Makes wind and solar power more reliable by balancing supply and demand

Limitations of battery storage

• Expensive to install and requires rare minerals

• Batteries degrade over time and create waste when replaced

Development of new energy resources

Benefits of developing new energy resources

• Improves future energy security by reducing reliance on fossil fuels

• Encourages innovation in cleaner technologies such as hydrogen and heat pumps

Limitations of developing new energy resources

• Requires large investment and many years of research

• Early-stage technologies may not yet be efficient or widely available