(Photo by: ceoworld.biz)
(Photo by: desktopcar.net)
(Photo by: A. Yurkovic)List each time you use electricity:
Alarm clock – 24 hours
Phone Charger (used at night)– 7 hours
Computer (including charging) – 7 hours
Fan – 6 hours
A/C – 6 hours
Shower (1 morning/1 night) – 30 min total
Dishwasher – 40 min
Microwave – 5 minutes
TV/Stereo – 6 hours
Lights (3 rooms) - 5 hours
b) RECORD THE METER READING of your electric meter, if you have access to it, 24 hours apart, to find out how much total electricity you use in a day.
After checking my meter at 9 am, then again 24 hours later I found out that the difference was 36 kWh. This was the day that the above list was used. Until I measured the times that I used certain things such as phone and computer and TV, I was unaware of how long they were on. During the day we open the windows for light most of the time. I checked online, and in 2008 the average per day kWh was 30.5. So I am a little bit above the average. I would open the windows up and use fans during the day but we have no screens on our windows yet. That would decrease the kWh per day definitely.
c) RECORD THE POWER COMPANY’S NAME. ASK THEM HOW THEY GENERATE THE ELECTRICITY AND RECORD IT (this may involve making a phone call or doing research online).
Florida Power and Light generates energy at a power plant using fuels and technologies. The breakdown of the fuel mix used is 52% natural gas, 19%nuclear, 15% purchased power, 8% oil and 6% coal (fpl.com). The energy produced is then sent to local substations through transmission lines and poles. Then the energy is routed to transformers which direct the energy to certain homes with smaller service lines.
d) Record your total mileage for the day, where you went and the mileage to get there. Record the number of people in the car with you.
House to Germain Arena and back (1 person) = 9.8 miles
House to CiCi’s Pizza and back (3 people) = 6.8 miles
House to College Club and back (1 person) = 9.1 miles
TOTAL for the day = 25.7 miles
e) DETERMINE YOUR GAS MILEAGE. ESTIMATE your total miles driven per year (you can take the current odometer reading and divide by the age of your car).
79,900 miles/5 years = 15980 mi/yr
f) DETERMINE THE TOTAL CARBON OUTPUT OF YOUR CAR for the day and for the year (Go to www.fueleconomy.gov for this number).
2005 Dodge Dakota 6 cylinder 2WD = 11 tons/yr of CO2 = .03 tons/day of CO2
g) Reflect on your energy and fuel usage. Do you make sustainable choices? Do you try to conserve energy and fuel when possible?
I did not realize the amount of energy I use a day. I normally realize the obvious energy users such as the lights, A/C, dish and clothe washers a couple times a week, but I didn’t remember that the small things use energy, sometimes for long times than the larger energy users. These small things include the alarm clock which is plugged in all day and night, phone and laptop charger, as well as the TV and sound system. The fans too, which I thought would balance out energy use with the lack of using the A/C. It was upsetting that I was above the average kWh in 2008. I want to try and lessen the amount of energy I use. Unplugging the computer, and phone when they are not in use, turning off lights at night and not in the room, and opening the windows using fans during the day would all help the energy use decrease. Fuel wise I think I am within healthy limits. I live in San Carlos, which is centered around Gulf Coast Town Center, School, hockey rink, and US 41. Everything is within a 10 mile radius, cutting down the amount of emissions and fuel spent. I fill up normally every week and a half to two weeks because of being so close. Even driving a truck, I think it is at good emission levels compared to almost any other truck.
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