Energy conservation: Exploding some myths: When it comes to cutting energy expenditures, the seemingly obvious may prove fallacious under scrutiny

The road to energy conservation, we are told, is paved with simplistic “rules”: cut voltage supplies by 5 percent, remove every other fluorescent lamp from fixtures, avoid electric space heating, etc., etc. Unfortunately, many of these suggestions are either completely or partially erroneous. And they can even be counterproductive, causing an increase in energy consumption. The misconceptions have arisen because energy conservation is not simplistic. It is fraught with complicating factors.