Generating electricity uses up a limited resource and causes pollution. We should care about this because we will either use up our supply of fossil fuels, and have no more electricity, or damage our environment beyond repair. Looking into renewable energy sources before this happens is imperative.
- Select PGE Green Source (or another similar option)
PGE charges for power by the kiloWatthour. The price for regular power is about $0.083/kWh. The price for Green Source is about $0.091/kWh. The average annual residential usage is 10,944 kWh. The price for Greensource versus regular power would be approximately $87.55 more per year, or a nine percent increase. The extra money you pay goes to support wind farms and other renewable energy sources. The return on investment is not immediate, but in the long run, it will fund clean sources for power and lessen reliance on fossil fuels and other pollution-generating sources.
- Replace incandescent bulbs w/ compact fluorescents
A normal incandescent light bulb costs about $1.00, while a compact fluorescent (CF) bulb costs about $4.00. The typical 100-watt incandescent bulb is rated at a lifetime of 750 hours. In one 365-day year, there are 8,760 hours. If a lamp was left on continuously for one year with one of these bulbs, it would use 876,000 watt-hours. The comparable CF bulb, rated at 26 watts with a lifetime of 8,000 hours, would use only 227,760 watt-hours in a year. It would require 11.68 100-watt incandescent bulbs to run continuously for the year, whereas it would only require 1.095 CF bulbs.
The costs of a single bulb running constantly is:
For incandescent bulbs, without
opting for Green Source:
bulbs 11.68 * $1.00 =
$11.68/year
kWh 876 * $0.083 = $72.71
total $11.68 + $72.71 =
$84.39/year
For CF bulbs, including Green Source:
bulbs 1.095 * $4.00 = $4.38
kWh 228 * $0.091 = $20.75
total $4.38 + $20.75 =
$25.13/year
The
savings is $59.26 per year, for a single light bulb.
- Reduce power consumption by using devices less
Reducing energy usage by about 10 percent would offset the cost of using Green Source. Buy lamp timers and put them on anything you want to reduce (as long as it does not overload the timer) and whenever you turn something on, just wind the timer up to as much as you think you need, so it turns off after that time - if you need more time, wind it up again. Do the same with television - most newer TVs have a "sleep" function which will turn the TV off after 30 to 90 minutes. Use it all the time, not just at night.
- Use rechargeable batteries
Savings are in terms of battery costs (for those which use separate batteries) or recharging time (for those with integrated batteries). Disposable batteries: $3.50 per 4-pack of AA Rechargeable batteries: $14.00 per 4-pack of AA The time batteries last depends on the equipment they power. Batteries are rated in milli-amp hours (mAh). The "amp" is a unit of measurement indicating current, and devices are also rated in terms of how many amps they require. A typical alkaline disposable AA battery is rated at 1700 to 3000 mAh. Suppose you have a device which uses 1 milliamp and uses two AA batteries rated at 1700 mAh. This will last 1700 hours. If you use it constantly for an entire year, you will replace the batteries 5.15 times. Compare with NiMH rechargeables which have a low-end rating of 1400 mAh. These will need to be recharged 6.26 times (8760 divided by 1400)
Cost for disposable batteries: 5.15
x $3.50 = $18.02
Cost of rechargeable batteries:
1.00 x $14.00 = $14.00
- Power small devices with solar power
Some examples are Voltaic Systems solar backpacks.
The solar backpacks are not cheap, but then again, neither are many of the typical devices they power (iPod, iPhone, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, etc)...if you can justify the cost of the appliance, you can probably justify the cost of a power source for it. The average solar backpack costs around $300.00, and has no recharging or replacement costs.
- Try to use Energy Star appliances
Visit this government-run company’s Website for more detailed information on sustainable building products and techniques that could potentially save $14 billion a year.
- Use "Green Contractors"
If you are hiring an contractor to build or remodel your home, do some research and find out if they are accredited with any “green” organization. Look for accreditations such as LEED, Earth Advantage, or Energy Star.
- Cheap appliances are expensive
Don’t buy an inefficient appliance just because it’s cheap. An efficient water heater, space heater, air conditioner, washer, dryer, or refrigerator may cost a little more, but in the long run it will save you money through reduced energy usage.
- Use open web floor trusses
For new construction use “open web floor trusses” to give space to your H-vac system. This involves giving more space between the 1st and 2nd floors for duct work that will heat both levels.
- Use fewer studs
An insulated wall loses energy through the studs. So by spacing them 24 inches apart, rather than the standard 16 inches you will reduce the amount of studs used and therefore reduce your energy loss.
- Build Sun Tunnel Skylights
These openings to the outside world provide free light for your closet, hallways, or other small rooms. They cost between $180-$350 and can be purchased through Velux.
REFERENCES:
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/cost.html
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