Residential And Commercial Consumption

As technology grows, we are able to find new and different ways to deal with the concern of global warming. However, there are quite a few things that we can do today, with the current level of technology available, to help aid in the fight to fix the damage caused. When you discuss the damage that has been done, the issue of carbon stabilization comes into play. Carbon stabilization has to do with the current and ideal levels of atmospheric CO2 (Carbon Dioxide). As the plan currently stands, the attempt is to cap the level at 500 +/- 50 ppm, or less than double the preindustrial concentration (280 ppm). However, in order to obtain this goal, the emissions of carbon must be held at the present level, 7 billion tons of carbon per year (GtC/year), for the next 50 years. This "sensible horizon" has prompted the creation of stabilization wedges for the environment. These wedges are, in essence, suggestions that could fix the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere. For the purpose of this group's research, the wedge we shall be discussing has to do with the energy consumption of commercial and residential electricity. This wedge alone could contain enough power to set in motion a change that could further benefit the planet we inhabit.

The reduction of electricity consumption within the residential and commercial aspects of our lives is one of the easiest wedges to form. There are not only many ways to save the extra electricity we use daily, but many of these ways simply require a slight lifestyle change, or a couple of extra dollars at the register. However, there are also ways to add to the reduction of commercial and residential electrical energy use before a home owner has any say in it. More efficient buildings can be made, using better building codes, and these buildings themselves can be outfitted with efficient appliances, mainly those that have earned an energy star rating. This could cut carbon emissions by ј in buildings and appliances alone. For residential mainly, there are many ways to save on the amount of energy used, and all it takes is a little change. For example, children have the habit of standing in front of a fridge with the door open, deciding what they want to eat. Every time this happens, the compressor inside of the refrigerator runs for 8-10 minutes in order to maintain the proper temperature inside for the foods. So, if on average the door is opened by a child 4 times a day for him or her to decide what they want for a little snack, the compressor is running anywhere from 32 - 40 minutes a day. Figure that into the other times the fridge is opened during the day, and that's quite a large amount of time for a compressor to be running daily. However, limiting the amount of times the door opens drops the amount of electricity wasted on the compressor.

Lighting seems to be the biggest way to save electricity between both residential and commercial. In residential situations, the shift from incandescent bulbs to fluorescent shows a great change in the amount of electricity saved. For example, take a normal 100 watt incandescent bulb. This bulb would cost normally 50 cents, last for 167 days, and have an annual energy use value of $21.90. However, an equivalent 27 watt compact fluorescent bulb would cost close to $9, have a life of 4.5 years and an annual energy use of $5.91. Assuming the light in question was left on for six hours per day, and electricity cost is set at $.10 per kWh, the incandescent would cost a consumer $103.55 while the more efficient CFL would only cost $35.60, giving the consumer a savings of $67.95. Switching to energy star lights within any house of business can lead to tremendous savings on an electrical bill. Replacing five frequently used bulbs can save more than $60 per year on a bill, while replacing 25% of your high-use incandescent bulbs to CFLs could lead to a 50% savings on an electrical bill. These energy savings may not mean much, but the replacement alone reduces electricity demand, which in turn reduces the need to burn fossil fuels, and thus can prevent the emission of at least 112 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Heating and cooling systems within a home are also a big electricity consumer, however they tend to be coupled with other smaller problems within the building. Replacing a low efficiency furnace with one with a better efficiency rating will only do so much until the other problems become apparent. Furnace efficiency is normally rated by what is known as Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). AFUE measures the amount of fuel converted to space heat in proportion to the amount of fuel entering the furnace. Many modern day furnaces have a minimum efficiency rating of 80%, uses a total of 790 therms and costs $320 annually to operate. However, there now are energy star alternatives to the average model furnace. Base energy star model furnaces have an efficiency of 90%, while the best available model offers an efficiency of 97%. Now, as far as savings go for the difference in furnaces, a 90% efficient furnace uses a total of 685 therms annually, costing a total of $270 anually, while the 97% efficient furnace uses 635 therms annually and costs $250 annually. For the entire lifetime of the furnace, a energy star base model will save a consumer close to $600 while the best model furnace will save $900.

These energy star light bulbs discussed above could be a big contributor in the achievement of this wedge within the next 50 years. These bulbs are at least 66% more efficient and will outlast 10 incandescent bulbs. So looking at the entire picture, replacing a single 100 watt incandescent bulb with a 27 watt CFL, your first of all saving a good chunk of money within the life time of the lamp. However, think about the electricity savings. Take the incandescent bulb into account:

100 watts x 6 hours per day = 600 watts per day

600 watts x 365 days = 219,000 watts annually.

219,000 watts / 1000 = 219 Kilowatts annually

219 Kw x 50 years = 10,950 Kw consumed*

*This is total consumed by 2056

Now, the compact fluorescent bulb:

27 watts x 6 hours per day = 162 watts per day

162 watts x 365 days = 59,130 watts annually

59,130 watts / 1000 = 59.13 Kilowatts annually

59.13 Kw x 50 years = 2956.5 Kw consumed*

*This is total consumed by 2056

So, subtracting the two values of electricity consumed from the two bulbs: