subject: If I acquire energy saving light bulbs how much will that help environmental sustainability? [print this page] Incandescent light bulbs are commonly stated as being harmful for the environment due to the fact that they use excessive amounts of energy. Additionally the environmental activists have now influenced government to put in place the light bulb ban. This is a phased initiative to restrain the use of incandescent light bulbs and move to energy saving light bulbs . I will now supply information on precisely what is the impact on your carbon footprint by migrating to energy saving light bulbs and compare this to carbon footprint levels for transportation and other electrical appliances.
C02 emission savings from changing to energy saving light bulbs.
Electric light bulbs intrinsically do not create C02 but it is the carbon dioxide that is expelled during the electricity generation that is the worry. Now certainly if you are using windmills or hydro-electric power to make your electricity then C02 emissions will be very little. However, most electricity is developed from oil or gas powered generators which do create a enormous amount of C02. Lets examine the carbon footprint numbers. If a single conventional incandescent light bulb is turned on for 4 hours a day and this is changed to an energy saving light bulb then this will save a staggering 100kg in C02 emissions each year.
How does this compare to driving my car or using the dish washer?
I am sure you are asking if 100kg of carbon dioxide emissions is a cause for concern and also if it is not possible to make these carbon footprint savings through other modes as opposed to changing to energy saving light bulbs? In order to respond to these questions I will offer then following data for analysis.
1. If you own a Ford Focus C-Max vehicle and you can organise to drive 340 miles less each year then this is an equivalent saving as changing one of your bulbs to one of your energy saving light bulbs.
2. If you can alter your travel patterns to avoid 1000 miles of train travel, this will consequently will save 100kg in C02 emissions. Energy Saving Light Bulbs can make an equivalent carbon footprint reduction through just changing a single light bulb.
3. Travelling from London to Glasgow by plane will result in the production of 100kg of C02 released into the atmosphere.
Faced with these options then changing to energy saving light bulbs looks like an obvious choice.
Summing Up
So as well as changing to energy saving light bulbs what else can you do to improve your carbon footprint?
As a comparator to , for example, using your dishwasher or washing machine, these appliances usein the region of 2-4 kWhours of electricity per cycle. By way of illustration if you used them twice a week then this would be akin to having 2 100 watt bulbs on for 4 hours a day. This is not a humongous amount so the focus here should be on usage pattern and methods. Always make sure that the appliances are full and then do not use your tumbler dryer if you can avoid it, hang the clothes out to dry.
If I acquire energy saving light bulbs how much will that help environmental sustainability?
