Collaborators:
David Delgado
David Delgado
Introduction & Problem:
"On average, every time an American spends a dollar, the energy equivalent of a cup of oil is used to produce what that dollar buys!"(Population and Energy Consumption, World Population Balance). This is the lavish lifestyle that the rest of the world knows our nation for. Perhaps Americans simply do not care about the environmental implications of their conspicuous consumption. I prefer to take an optimistic approach towards understanding this issue, which is why I believe that consumers are misinformed on methods to save energy. An energy conservation effort is the start of a solution to this global energy crisis, and awareness could be the spark needed to incite such a movement; therefore, this lab seeks to promote awareness by addressing the question, "How does electrical energy consumption affect the environment, and what factors influence energy consumption?" It is crucial to then utilize this information in order to draw conclusions about possible energy conservation methods that can be implemented in our daily lives. We may have a long way to go in developing specific energy conserving behaviors, but it is important to understand that "the only way to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the combustion of fossil fuels is to reduce consumption"(Norris, Kara). Thus, this lab should not simply endorse the idea that consuming less energy at the individual level will solve everything, but that this is the beginning to improving the energy dynamics of a larger, shared energy system and reducing the environmental impact of global climate change.
Hypothesis:
If the electrical energy consumption is documented over a period of ten days, then the environmental impact of the daily energy usage -- in terms of CO2 and SO2 emissions -- will be relatively low due to a predilection for energy conservation and the use of energy efficient appliances.
Parts of the Experiment:
Materials and Methods:
a) Materials:
b) Method:
A. Reading and Recording Electricity Consumption:
Data & Data Analysis:
a) Data:
"On average, every time an American spends a dollar, the energy equivalent of a cup of oil is used to produce what that dollar buys!"(Population and Energy Consumption, World Population Balance). This is the lavish lifestyle that the rest of the world knows our nation for. Perhaps Americans simply do not care about the environmental implications of their conspicuous consumption. I prefer to take an optimistic approach towards understanding this issue, which is why I believe that consumers are misinformed on methods to save energy. An energy conservation effort is the start of a solution to this global energy crisis, and awareness could be the spark needed to incite such a movement; therefore, this lab seeks to promote awareness by addressing the question, "How does electrical energy consumption affect the environment, and what factors influence energy consumption?" It is crucial to then utilize this information in order to draw conclusions about possible energy conservation methods that can be implemented in our daily lives. We may have a long way to go in developing specific energy conserving behaviors, but it is important to understand that "the only way to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with the combustion of fossil fuels is to reduce consumption"(Norris, Kara). Thus, this lab should not simply endorse the idea that consuming less energy at the individual level will solve everything, but that this is the beginning to improving the energy dynamics of a larger, shared energy system and reducing the environmental impact of global climate change.
Hypothesis:
If the electrical energy consumption is documented over a period of ten days, then the environmental impact of the daily energy usage -- in terms of CO2 and SO2 emissions -- will be relatively low due to a predilection for energy conservation and the use of energy efficient appliances.
Parts of the Experiment:
- There is no control group in this experiment.
- There is no experimental group.
- The independent variable is the daily energy usage regarding electricity consumption.
- The dependent variable consists of the CO2 emissions produced by our energy consumption.
- The controlled variables include the materials, the time during which the energy is recorded, the air conditioning settings, and the water heater settings.
Materials and Methods:
a) Materials:
- A home...
- Power meter
- Electricity bill
- Camera
- Internet access in order to conduct research
b) Method:
A. Reading and Recording Electricity Consumption:
- Read the electric meter at the same time every day for a 10-day period and record the values.
- Make daily notes on the patterns of electricity use in your household, particularly the use of large appliances.
- Note the usual settings for the air conditioner and water heater, the amount of cooking done, the type of lights used, the amount of laundry done, and so forth.
- Also, make notes on aspects of the weather that may affect heating or cooling. Weather notes should include cloud cover and high and low temperature readings for that day. Report local temperature readings and thermostat settings in degrees Celsius. Record data in Table 1: Meter Readings, Observations and Usage Notes.
- Obtain a copy of your electricity bill. Calculate the average daily cost for electricity in your house. Record in Table 2: The Cost of Electricity.
- After calculating the daily electricity usage (in Table 1), average out the cost per kWh. If it is indicated on your electricity bill, how does your estimate compare? Record data in Table 2: The Cost of Electricity.
- In order to determine the amount of CO2 released by your electricity consumption each month, multiply the number of kilowatt-hours used per month by the kilograms of CO2 produced per kWh (see table 3 below). If a coal-burning power plant is the main source for your electricity, the amount of SO2 emitted per month can be approximated by multiplying the number of kilowatt-hours used per month by kilograms of SO2/kWh. Consult your local power utility to determine the fuel mix used to generate electricity in your area. (If coal or oil is used, determine the amount of SO2 produced.)
- Find out if you use any natural gas or propane in your house (this is most likely used for a stove, dryer, or logs). If so, consult your recent bill and indicate the amount of gas consumed. List the appliances using gas and then, calculate your CO2 emissions using Table 3: Carbon Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions, by Source, for generating electricity.
- Description of dwelling and picture:
- The amount, location and quality (type and R-value) of insulation
- The amount of shade provided by trees or shrubs
- The condition, composition, and color of the roof
- The air circulation in the attic
- The tightness of the fit for doors and window
- The color of outer walls (does it absorb or reflect heat?)
- Any other features that may affect the dwelling’s heat balance
Data & Data Analysis:
a) Data:
Table 1: Meter Readings, Observations and Usage Notes for the period of 10 days
Table 2: The Cost of Electricity
Table 3: Carbon Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions, by Source, for generating electricity
Carbon Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions:
Duke Energy's Fuel Mix
Calculated Emissions by Source:
Total Amount of Energy Used per Month: 675 kWh
Coal
Duke Energy's Fuel Mix
- 56.8% - Nuclear
- 38.1% - Coal
- 4% - Natural Gas
- 1% - Hydropower
- 0.1% Renewables
Calculated Emissions by Source:
Total Amount of Energy Used per Month: 675 kWh
Coal
- Total Number of kWh Used per Month from Coal: (.381)(675) = 257.2 kWh
- Total Amount of CO2 Emitted per Month from Coal: (0.97)(257.2) = 249.5 kg CO2
- Total Amount of SO2 Emitted per Month from Coal: (0.006)(257.2) = 1.5 kg SO2
- Total Number of kWh Used per Month from Natural Gas: (.04)(675) = 27 kWh
- Total Amount of CO2 Emitted per Month from Natural Gas: (0.47)(27) = 12.7 kg CO2
- Total Amount of SO2 Emitted per Month from Natural Gas: None
Description and Picture of Dwelling (Photo above taken by David Delgado):
My home is small and cozy. It is a single-story home, with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, dinning room, and a laundry room. My front yard, which is where I prefer to do my studying, has a peach tree and two elm trees. Luckily, they do not block all of the sunlight from heating our home. Insulation can be found in the crawl space and in between the walls. The insulation in the crawl space, which is fiber glass R-15, is in great condition because it was just replaced one year ago; the insulation used for the walls is the same. In addition, the three trees that are located in our front yard block about 40% of direct sunlight, which provides a decent amount of shade during the day. The roof was also part of our recent renovation, and we went with a black shingled roof. Our attic has good air circulation due to ventilation. These vents allow homes to be more energy-efficient by allowing a natural flow of outdoor air to enter the attic. The windows and doors fit perfectly into their frames, allowing them to seal tight when closed. In addition, weather stripping is used on the bottom of our doors, and all of the windows are double-sided. Our house is covered with an off white cream colored siding, which reflects heat. The air conditioning system and water heating system were upgraded for more efficient appliances last year. Lastly, the fan in the living room is used during the winter in order to circulate warm air throughout our home.
Data Analysis/ Discussion:
It makes sense that knowing how much energy costs would encourage people to use less energy; however, the effort that people are willing to put in to save a few dollars on their monthly energy bills is quite arbitrary. "People like to think that they are contributing to energy conservation, so they take the energy-saving steps that involve little inconvenience"(Milstein, Jeffrey S). By this, Milstein means that most people stop at turning of the lights whenever they are not in the room in an effort to save energy. Although it is a start, it may not be enough to mitigate the ecological effects of high electricity consumption in the United States. According to Energy Neighborhoods, a conventional (incandescent) light bulb consumes 1 kWh for every 16 hours, while an energy saving light bulb consumes 1 kWh for every 50 hours. Thus, economic investments seem to be the most proactive way to conserve energy. However, this does not mean that patterns of energy consumption at the individual and household level are insignificant. In my case, an average daily usage of 21.78 kWh, as well as the 249.5 kg CO2 released by coal per month, could be lowered by focusing on the use of our air conditioning, our water heating system, and appliances for making food. These factors appear to be the most influential on my family's electricity bill every month, and thus they are responsible for increasing the amount of harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere.
My father grew up with the idea that success should not be measured one's material possessions, nor does he believe that hard work entitles one to lavish, energy-consuming material goods and activities. Still, we do not feel bad about taking 20-minute showers after a long day at work or school. It seems like a negligible practice to indulge in once in a while, but if water heating is responsible for 10-25% of our household energy bill, then we should definitely cut back on long showers. It does not cost anything to cut off a few minutes from our daily showers, and we would be saving money at the same time. In addition, the air conditioning system in our home plays a large role in our monthly energy bill. Although our air conditioning system does not have to cool/warm a large house, it cannot be energy efficient on its own. By keeping it a constant setting of 22°C all day, we are placing a higher value on comfort and convenience instead of conserving energy. Instead of letting the air conditioning system do all of the work, we can raise the settings during the summer and use curtains to help retain cool air or lower the settings during the winter and use a jacket to stay warm indoors. Lastly, I noticed that the amount of cooking done has a significant effect on energy consumption, especially if the cooking is being done in a conventional oven. Since my mom cooks something almost every day, the positive changes that would result from using the microwave and toaster oven more frequently would most likely be reflected in our electricity bill. In turn, these changes in patterns of consumption would reduce the amount of CO2 that our household contributes to Duke Energy's emissions.
My home is small and cozy. It is a single-story home, with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living room, dinning room, and a laundry room. My front yard, which is where I prefer to do my studying, has a peach tree and two elm trees. Luckily, they do not block all of the sunlight from heating our home. Insulation can be found in the crawl space and in between the walls. The insulation in the crawl space, which is fiber glass R-15, is in great condition because it was just replaced one year ago; the insulation used for the walls is the same. In addition, the three trees that are located in our front yard block about 40% of direct sunlight, which provides a decent amount of shade during the day. The roof was also part of our recent renovation, and we went with a black shingled roof. Our attic has good air circulation due to ventilation. These vents allow homes to be more energy-efficient by allowing a natural flow of outdoor air to enter the attic. The windows and doors fit perfectly into their frames, allowing them to seal tight when closed. In addition, weather stripping is used on the bottom of our doors, and all of the windows are double-sided. Our house is covered with an off white cream colored siding, which reflects heat. The air conditioning system and water heating system were upgraded for more efficient appliances last year. Lastly, the fan in the living room is used during the winter in order to circulate warm air throughout our home.
Data Analysis/ Discussion:
It makes sense that knowing how much energy costs would encourage people to use less energy; however, the effort that people are willing to put in to save a few dollars on their monthly energy bills is quite arbitrary. "People like to think that they are contributing to energy conservation, so they take the energy-saving steps that involve little inconvenience"(Milstein, Jeffrey S). By this, Milstein means that most people stop at turning of the lights whenever they are not in the room in an effort to save energy. Although it is a start, it may not be enough to mitigate the ecological effects of high electricity consumption in the United States. According to Energy Neighborhoods, a conventional (incandescent) light bulb consumes 1 kWh for every 16 hours, while an energy saving light bulb consumes 1 kWh for every 50 hours. Thus, economic investments seem to be the most proactive way to conserve energy. However, this does not mean that patterns of energy consumption at the individual and household level are insignificant. In my case, an average daily usage of 21.78 kWh, as well as the 249.5 kg CO2 released by coal per month, could be lowered by focusing on the use of our air conditioning, our water heating system, and appliances for making food. These factors appear to be the most influential on my family's electricity bill every month, and thus they are responsible for increasing the amount of harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere.
My father grew up with the idea that success should not be measured one's material possessions, nor does he believe that hard work entitles one to lavish, energy-consuming material goods and activities. Still, we do not feel bad about taking 20-minute showers after a long day at work or school. It seems like a negligible practice to indulge in once in a while, but if water heating is responsible for 10-25% of our household energy bill, then we should definitely cut back on long showers. It does not cost anything to cut off a few minutes from our daily showers, and we would be saving money at the same time. In addition, the air conditioning system in our home plays a large role in our monthly energy bill. Although our air conditioning system does not have to cool/warm a large house, it cannot be energy efficient on its own. By keeping it a constant setting of 22°C all day, we are placing a higher value on comfort and convenience instead of conserving energy. Instead of letting the air conditioning system do all of the work, we can raise the settings during the summer and use curtains to help retain cool air or lower the settings during the winter and use a jacket to stay warm indoors. Lastly, I noticed that the amount of cooking done has a significant effect on energy consumption, especially if the cooking is being done in a conventional oven. Since my mom cooks something almost every day, the positive changes that would result from using the microwave and toaster oven more frequently would most likely be reflected in our electricity bill. In turn, these changes in patterns of consumption would reduce the amount of CO2 that our household contributes to Duke Energy's emissions.
Conclusions:
The results of this experiment confirm the hypothesis that if the electrical energy consumption is documented over a period of ten days, then the environmental impact of the daily energy usage — in terms of CO2 and SO2 emissions — will be relatively low. Although the results support the hypothesis, there was still some uncertainty as to what factors would contribute most to the electrical energy consumption. For instance, the effect that one load of laundry can have on daily energy usage is astonishing. Anywhere from 3-4 kWh can be attributed to washing and drying one load of laundry. Further investigation added to this astonishment, especially when I found out that "each household that makes the switch to cold-water washing eliminates about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year"(Borris, Chris). Errors that could have been made during this experiment include recording the power meter at different times each day, calculation errors in the math portion of this assignment, and having a different average daily usage (kWh) than the one indicated by the electric bill. These possible sources of error are not detrimental to the accuracy of energy usage, and they do not hinder the ability to draw conclusions concerning the overall environmental impact of specific patterns of consumption.
Just as human population growth is a good indicator of environmental impact, electricity consumption can provide information concerning the impact of our daily habits on the environment. Furthermore, these two indicators are inextricably linked by the need for conservation efforts in the United States. The U.S.'s per capita electricity consumption is by far the largest in the world. In fact, "research done for FEA suggests that Americans have cultural norms that militate against reducing their use of energy"(Milstein, Jeffrey S). Americans erroneously believe that success is defined in terms conspicuous consumption, without realizing that "the population growth problem is worse in America from a consumption perspective"(Population and Energy Consumption, World Population Balance). Thus, energy conservation efforts can be considered a method for mitigating human environmental impact. The solution begins with those who are capable of flipping a switch. This is where the energy audit lab comes in; it promotes an understanding of the environmental impacts of energy usage, and allows young people to determine the best way that they can conserve energy and reduce the ecological impact. Even if one is not inspired to make dramatic changes in his or her lifestyle, being aware of the environmental repercussions of high electricity consumption and making slight changes in the way he or she performs daily tasks can have a significant impact on the annual electricity consumption per household. For example, we can all choose to limit the use of air conditioning, take shorter showers when using hot water, and turn appliances off when they are not being used. By making these changes, we are placing a higher value on the future of this nation, and the future of planet Earth. It is our future, the world that our generation will inherit, so lets shape it into something that we can be proud of!
Citations:
Borris, Chris. "Laundry." September/October 2002 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club. Sierra Club, Sept.-Oct. 2002. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://vault.sierraclub.org/sierra/200209/hidden.asp>.
"How Much Does It Cost to Run...?" Energy Neighborhoods. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.energyneighbourhoods.eu/en_uk/how-much-does-it-cost-run>.
Milstein, Jeffrey S. "Attitudes, Knowledge and Behavior of American Consumers Regarding. Energy Conservation With Some Implications For Governmental Action." in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 04, eds. William D. Perreault, Jr., Atlanta, GA : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 315-321.
Norris, Kara. Personal Energy Audit. N.p.: Web. 22 Oct. 2014. PDF.
"Our Energy Mix." Duke Energy. Duke Energy Corporation, 2014. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. <http://www.duke-energy.com/north-carolina/nc-rate-case/our-energy-mix.asp>.
"Population and Energy Consumption." World Population Balance. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.worldpopulationbalance.org/population_energy>.
Templeman, Amy. "8 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient."Environmental Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.environmental-watch.com/2013/07/22/8-ways-to-make-your-home-energy-efficient/>.
The results of this experiment confirm the hypothesis that if the electrical energy consumption is documented over a period of ten days, then the environmental impact of the daily energy usage — in terms of CO2 and SO2 emissions — will be relatively low. Although the results support the hypothesis, there was still some uncertainty as to what factors would contribute most to the electrical energy consumption. For instance, the effect that one load of laundry can have on daily energy usage is astonishing. Anywhere from 3-4 kWh can be attributed to washing and drying one load of laundry. Further investigation added to this astonishment, especially when I found out that "each household that makes the switch to cold-water washing eliminates about 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year"(Borris, Chris). Errors that could have been made during this experiment include recording the power meter at different times each day, calculation errors in the math portion of this assignment, and having a different average daily usage (kWh) than the one indicated by the electric bill. These possible sources of error are not detrimental to the accuracy of energy usage, and they do not hinder the ability to draw conclusions concerning the overall environmental impact of specific patterns of consumption.
Just as human population growth is a good indicator of environmental impact, electricity consumption can provide information concerning the impact of our daily habits on the environment. Furthermore, these two indicators are inextricably linked by the need for conservation efforts in the United States. The U.S.'s per capita electricity consumption is by far the largest in the world. In fact, "research done for FEA suggests that Americans have cultural norms that militate against reducing their use of energy"(Milstein, Jeffrey S). Americans erroneously believe that success is defined in terms conspicuous consumption, without realizing that "the population growth problem is worse in America from a consumption perspective"(Population and Energy Consumption, World Population Balance). Thus, energy conservation efforts can be considered a method for mitigating human environmental impact. The solution begins with those who are capable of flipping a switch. This is where the energy audit lab comes in; it promotes an understanding of the environmental impacts of energy usage, and allows young people to determine the best way that they can conserve energy and reduce the ecological impact. Even if one is not inspired to make dramatic changes in his or her lifestyle, being aware of the environmental repercussions of high electricity consumption and making slight changes in the way he or she performs daily tasks can have a significant impact on the annual electricity consumption per household. For example, we can all choose to limit the use of air conditioning, take shorter showers when using hot water, and turn appliances off when they are not being used. By making these changes, we are placing a higher value on the future of this nation, and the future of planet Earth. It is our future, the world that our generation will inherit, so lets shape it into something that we can be proud of!
Citations:
Borris, Chris. "Laundry." September/October 2002 - Sierra Magazine - Sierra Club. Sierra Club, Sept.-Oct. 2002. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://vault.sierraclub.org/sierra/200209/hidden.asp>.
"How Much Does It Cost to Run...?" Energy Neighborhoods. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.energyneighbourhoods.eu/en_uk/how-much-does-it-cost-run>.
Milstein, Jeffrey S. "Attitudes, Knowledge and Behavior of American Consumers Regarding. Energy Conservation With Some Implications For Governmental Action." in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 04, eds. William D. Perreault, Jr., Atlanta, GA : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 315-321.
Norris, Kara. Personal Energy Audit. N.p.: Web. 22 Oct. 2014. PDF.
"Our Energy Mix." Duke Energy. Duke Energy Corporation, 2014. Web. 18 Oct. 2014. <http://www.duke-energy.com/north-carolina/nc-rate-case/our-energy-mix.asp>.
"Population and Energy Consumption." World Population Balance. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.worldpopulationbalance.org/population_energy>.
Templeman, Amy. "8 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient."Environmental Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2014. <http://www.environmental-watch.com/2013/07/22/8-ways-to-make-your-home-energy-efficient/>.