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Save Energy with a Light Bulb? Really?

People hear a lot of hype about saving energy by switching to CFL light bulbs. Does this small step really help? It’s seems easy enough.

Rebecca Smith answers this question and several others in a Wall Street Journal article. Her answers somehow makes going green seem less daunting.

Take a peek.

• I’D LIKE TO START SMALL. HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN YOU REALLY SAVE WITH LIGHT BULBS?

A lot. A 25-watt compact fluorescent produces about as much light as a 100-watt conventional bulb but uses only one-quarter of the electricity. Because of that, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average 25-watt compact fluorescent will save the equivalent of 100 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. That’s about as much as a car generates driving 93 miles, assuming it gets a typical 23.9 miles per gallon.

And compact fluorescents won’t cost you an arm and a leg. In California, for instance, utility rebates and volume discounts have driven down the cost of a four-pack of 25-watt compact fluorescents to about $2 — versus $40 or more for the 100-watt equivalents in 1999. Prices have gotten so low that some compact fluorescents pay for themselves in energy savings the first month.

• IT SEEMS LIKE MY REFRIGERATOR IS A BIG ENERGY HOG, BUT IT’S SUCH A COSTLY ITEM TO REPLACE. WHEN DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BUY A NEW ONE, AND SHOULD I PAY EXTRA FOR AN ENERGY STAR MODEL?

First, let’s clear up a misperception. Compared with other household systems, refrigerators don’t use that much electricity. In fact, they account for only 8% of an average household’s annual electricity use, behind items such as water heating (13%). And they’re dwarfed by real hogs like climate-control systems (45%).

With that in mind, here’s a rough guide to replacing your fridge: If your unit was manufactured before 1993, it’s probably time to make the move. Today’s Energy Star models are twice as efficient as the average older unit, according to the EPA, and will make up for their higher initial cost within five years. In places where energy costs are high, they may completely pay for themselves in energy savings within 10 years. On average, you’ll likely save $40 to $90 annually in electricity bills.

Plus, a new unit that uses half the power of an older unit is responsible for about half the greenhouse-gas emissions. Of course, the actual environmental impact depends on where you live. States with a lot of coal-fired power plants have higher carbon-dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour of power consumed than states that rely more heavily on nuclear power, hydroelectricity or natural-gas-fired plants.

• HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN I SAVE BY TURNING DOWN MY THERMOSTAT ON WINTER NIGHTS?

A rule of thumb is that a two-degree reduction in the temperature setting on your furnace cuts energy use by 1%, the EPA says. Moreover, houses that are well sealed and insulated, including heat ducts, use less energy because the furnace doesn’t have to run as hard.

You might also consider replacing an old furnace. Replacing a 1980s furnace with an Energy Star model costing $4,000 could produce $3,269 in net savings for a New England family, according to an EPA calculator at energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=furnaces.pr_furnaces. The move would also cut lifetime carbon dioxide emissions by 96,450 pounds — equivalent to the output of a car for 10 years.

November 14 2007 | Green Trends and Green Lifestyle | No Comments »

Consumer’s Guide to Going Green

How much energy do you save by switching light bulbs? Should you replace your refrigerator?

The Wall Street Journal’s Guide to Going Green answers these common questions. Some of the answers might surprise you.

Here’s a preview of Rebecca Smith’s article:

We hear the message day in and day out: It’s time to go green. But figuring out where to start can be daunting.

When you look for advice, you often find wildly impractical schemes about remaking your entire life to reduce your “carbon footprint.” Or you end up having to sort through heaps of perplexing statistics about power usage and efficiency.

Meanwhile, it can be tough to track down what most people actually need: a clear statement of the carbon consequences of, say, switching your light bulbs. And you’ll rarely find out if you’ll save enough on your energy bills to recover the cost of buying new appliances or changing your habits.

With that in mind, here are some answers to some commonly posed questions about what to do — and what not to do — to get greener.

Question 1: What are the simplest - and cheapest - things I can do to cut emissions?

Smith’s answer:

The most important thing to remember as you’re getting started is that you don’t have to change your whole life to make a difference.

“You can go crazy and get lost in the details and completely miss the point that every little bit helps,” says Carl Zichella, regional director in Sacramento, Calif., for the Sierra Club.

So where do you start? Here are just a handful of things that may be obvious — and yet so many people don’t do them. Heat or cool your home less. Drive or fly fewer miles. Run electrical equipment less and use less water since pumping water takes a lot of electricity. Buy more locally grown foods and goods that are manufactured nearby; they’re typically made with cleaner U.S. manufacturing processes, and companies use less fuel to transport them.

Plus, buy the most energy-efficient devices you can afford. For instance, look for appliances with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star label. Since the program started in 1992, the EPA says, it has helped Americans save $14 billion on energy bills and cut emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles. The EPA now includes more than four dozen types of products in the program, everything from DVD players to air conditioners.

In addition, the EPA has a useful calculator that allows you to create a customized plan for reducing your environmental impact.

Don’t worry - more questions and answers are to come.

November 14 2007 | General | No Comments »

National Recycling Day

America Recycles Day is Nov. 15.

Hundreds of events will be held across the United States to raise awareness about the importance of recycling at home and work and buying recycled products.

According to the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), 20 years ago, almost 1,000 curbside recycling programs existed in the U.S. Today, there are more than 10,000 curbside recycling programs across the nation, and Americans recycle 33 percent of their waste, a rate that has almost doubled in the past 15 years.

While the nation is doing better, is Chicago at the bottom of the heap?

A Chicago Sun-Times article addresses whether the city lags behind the rest of the country in recycling efforts.

November 14 2007 | Green Events | No Comments »