How Much Coal Can A CFL Save?

Imagine one light bulb consuming electricity around the clock for one full year. How much coal would it take to light that bulb if it were an incandescent? How about if it were compact fluorescent? Let’s do the calculation:

The thermal energy content of coal is 6,150 kWh/ton of coal. If 40% of the thermal energy in coal is converted to electricity, then:

0.4 x 6,150 kWh/ton = 2,460 kWh/ton of coal burned

One 100-watt light bulb burning for one full year:

0.1 kW x 8,760 hours = 876 kWh

So that: 876 kWh/(2,460kWh/ton) = 0.3561 tons = 712 pounds of coal burned per year

One 23-watt CFL burning for one ful year:

0.023 kW x 8,760 hours = 201 kWh

So that: 201.5 kWh/(2,460kWh/ton) = 0.0819 tons = 164 pounds of coal burned per year

The difference? 712 – 164 = 548 pounds of coal saved per year!

Carbon Dioxide Savings

There are, on average, 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide per pound of coal burned.

548 pounds of coal saved annualy x 2.2 pounds of carbon dioxide/pound of coal = 1,206 pounds CO2 per 23-watt CFL changed!

Seeing The Light To Energy Savings…

Ever wonder how you could live without light? As a resident of this planet called Earth, I feel extremely lucky to have the Sun, it provides me with an enormous amount of light that I need for living. Wait, we all need light for a variety of purposes.

In general we need light to see; but also to grow crops, power our society, and even keep us happy! (Have you ever met anyone deficient of Vitamin D? I was once diagnosed with a red mark on my chart, “Deficient”, and believe me it’s not a happy state of being!) Inside our houses we need light to see and carry out our normal “home” routine. Unlike outside, we need to be careful with light at home because it’s not free! Forgetting to turn off lights and heating can take a toll on the monthly bill. As your local Green Irene, I can help you see the light to energy saving at home! Lighting fixtures at home can draw a large amount of power, perhaps sometimes unnecessarily because there are more energy efficient options. With my Light bulb Savings Calculator, I can determine how much you can save by replacing your old light bulbs with more energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).

For example, if you replaced 57 old incandescent light bulbs of different types with the Green Irene Set of CFLs and your electricity rate is roughly $0.24/kwh, you would save more than $6,000.00 over the lifetime of the light bulbs at a cost of $536. In addition, your home would reduce its carbon footprint by 41,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equal to planting 5.1 acres of trees or taking 3.6 cars off the roads.I know what you are thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot!” Yes it is… imagine making that kind of an impact and saving that kind of money by just replacing light bulbs…

I can help you green up your home and save money by showing you where the energy savings actually are in your home. Simply ask your local Green Irene, that’s me…you’ll be taking an important step to greening up, while saving money.

Contact Lane Kennedy, Independent Authorized Green Irene Eco-Consultant

www.GreenIrene.com/1070lane.sanfrancisco@greenirene.com