While policy makers and nations debate a tougher international treaty to curtail greenhouse gas emissions, there is much we as individuals can do in our homes and workplaces to reduce our contribution to global warming. The good news is that many of these actions can save money as well as protect our environment. Lighting accounts for about 20% of all electricity use in the country and about 15% of electricity use in our homes. The typical household spends about $110 per year on lighting and most of this is wasted on inefficient incandescent light bulbs. These bulbs are actually heaters in disguise, converting 90% of the electricity into heat and only about 10% to visible light. There are practical alternatives to standard light bulbs – compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Recent advances have made them small with electronic circuitry making them lighter and more compact and without the hum and flicker of ordinary fluorescent lights. The electricity savings and longer life of CFL’s more than justify their seemingly high cost. For example, by paying $15 initially for an 18 watt CFL, consumers can avoid buying nine ordinary 75 watt bulbs and save dollars in electricity costs over the life of the CFL. Put differently, investing in a CFL provides a risk-free “return” of 25-40% a year. Not bad, compared to investing in passbook savings, a money market account, or even the volatile stock market. The purpose of this activity is to see what the savings in dollars and emissions in carbon dioxide would be if you replaced the incandescent bulbs in your house with the newer CFL’s.
PROCEDURE
1. Go around your house and count up how many 40, 60, 75, and 150 watt incandescent bulbs you are currently are using. Fill in the chart below 2. From the number of incandescent bulbs in your home, determine how many CFL’s you would need using the information below:
3. Each 25 watt CFL will save $9 per year in electricity costs. Total your dollar savings 4. Each 25 watt CFL will create 150 lbs less carbon dioxide emissions per year. Total your carbon dioxide emission savings 5. Each 18 watt CFL will save $9 per year in electricity costs. Total your dollar savings 6. Each 18 watt CFL will create 120 lbs less carbon dioxide emissions per year. Total your carbon dioxide emission savings 7. Each 15 watt CFL will save $8 per year in electricity costs. Total your dollar savings 8. Each 15 watt CFL will create 90 lbs less carbon dioxide emissions per year. Total your carbon dioxide emission savings 9. Determine your total dollar savings and the total reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per year.
NUMBER OF INCANDESCENT BULBS IN YOUR HOUSE
150 wat _____
100 watt _____
75 watt _____
60 watt _____
40 watt ______
NUMBER OF REPLACEMENT CFL’S
25 watt _____
18 watt _____
15 watt _____
DOLLAR AND CO2 SAVINGS
Total $ Savings per year from switching to CFL bulbs: $____________
Total lbs of carbon dioxide emissions saved per year: ___________lbs
