Directory:Energy Efficiency
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Energy Efficiency Purpose
This page is dedicated to putting together the various energy efficiency options into a larger picture of overall efficient use of energy, and how efficiency gains in one technology might have unexpected and positive consequences in other related technologies.
For example: How will highly efficient lighting sources like light emitting diodes (LEDs) or compact flourescent lights (see links below) affect a technology like home-based solar? On the surface one might find it hard to see a connection or relation between lighting and home-based solar. But, one has to understand that the cost of a home-based solar power system is very dependent on the amount of electricity that the solar powered energy system is required to deliver. A major advancement in lighting and/or appliance efficiency could reduce an average home's power needs dramatically, and make home-based solar much more practical.
Combining Efficient Lighting with Advanced Power Generation
If advanced power generation and LEDs are combined, then we're talking about potentially producing the same amount of light for an average home, but only using 1/12 the energy that is currently used (1/6 from LEDs times two from advanced energy generation)! Even with currently available compact flourescent lights we could produce the same amount of light with only 1/8 the energy (1/4 from flourescents times two from advanced energy generation)! These are startling facts. Think about it next time you read about a controversy over sighting a dirty coal plant in your area.
In either case, we're talking about highly efficient ways of delivering energy to consumers. How many new dirty power plants would we have to built if our whole economy switched over to LEDs and compact flourescent lights and advanced energy generation? Would we even be talking about building new nuclear plants? How much money would be saved by large energy users like corporations and government? How will those money savings boost are standard of living? These questions deserve answers.
How Efficient Lighting Might Affect Home-Based Renewables
Overview - How Efficient Lighting Affects Home Renewables?
How will user-end efficient lighting sources like LEDs or compact flourescent lighting affect things like home-based renewable energy generation from souces like solar?
Probably the most easily overlooked benefit of efficient lighting sources such as LEDs or compact flourescents is the fact that if an average American home swtiched to these highly efficient energy sources, then generating one's electricity as-needed at their home via renewables like solar would be much more practical. This is because a lot less electricity would be necessary to deliver what the average home would need for their electricity needs. This in turn could easily make solar a 100% electricity option for homeowners and also bring down the cost of solar installations, as they wouldn't need to be so powerful to deliver the necessary electricity.
Here's How it Would Work
Let's assume an average 3-4 bedroom American 1,800 square foot house now requires 1,500 Kilowatts (KW)/per month of electricity to run comfortably (see Source below). Let's say we could bring the level of electricity necessary to run comfortably down to 700 KW/month for a 3-4 bedroom house. This would be done by replacing all of the current incandescent lights with far more efficient LEDs or fluorescent lights.
Then, suddenly solar would be a lot more practical to run an entire house's electrical needs. Instead of needing a prohibitively expensive 5 KW solar array and battery bank ($40,000) necessary to deliver 1,500 KW/month reliably. All you would need is a modest 1 KW solar array and battery bank capable of delivering either 700 KW/month reliably. 1 KW solar array systems typically sell for around $10,000.
- Source: How much electricity does an average 2-story 3-bedroom house use? (http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_much_electricity_does_an_average_2-story_3-bedroom_house_use_per_day_per_month_or_per_year) Estimates of average monthly electricity usage vary widely from 600 KW/month to well over 2,000 KW/month. Assuming the average American isn't very concerned with using energy sparingly and tends to have a lot of electric gadgets, this 1,500 KW/month figure seems realistic.
See the example below for a more detailed explanation of how efficient lighting makes home-based solar practical.
Of course, you'd might want a good battery bank in case of a blackout or to cover nighttime solar usage. But, battery technology is sufficient already and improving all the time (see link below).
The potential is unlimited as solar cells become more powerful and cheaper using advanced production methods like nanotechnolgy (see link below), and battery technologies improve and become less expensive, and as lighting and other appliances become more efficient. It's all coming together to make home-based solar a much more realistic option in the near future.
Breaking Down the Cost Savings
Let's fact it, people utimately want to know how much money they will save from a new technology? These savings and payback times will be dependent on a number of variables, including state rebate programs, lighting and appliance efficiency and the cost of the home-based solar power system chosen by the homeowner. In my state (NJ), the state offers a 70% rebate on new solar installations, so I'll use that in my example of cost savings.
Let's say the average American house uses 1,500 KiloWatts (KW) of electricity per month (based on a reasonable estimate). By installing super-efficient state-of-the-art lighting and appliances to reduce your electricity needs to 700 KW/month,t would mean a modest $10,000 investment in a 1 KW solar could deliver all your energy needs. No more use of dirty grid power. A 1,500 KW/month system would require about 5 KW of installed solar, which is around $40,000.
In some states that 1 KW solar investment could be as low as $3,000 after rebates. Now, if for a one-time $3,000 investment, you could stop paying an electric bill essentially forever, that is a strong incentive to go solar. Super-efficient lighting makes this possible, otherwise you'd be looking at a hefty $40,000 investment, even a pricy $12,000 investment after rebates. Well beyond the means of most homeowners. But, if the costs could be brought down to $3,000 for a 700 KW/month 1 KW solar installation, via efficient lighting/appliacnes, then suddenly solar is within reach of millions and actually makes a lot of economic sense.
I use about $1,200/year in electricity. So, in just under 3 years, my $3,000 solar system would be paid for and I'd really start saving money in a very real way. If I was using 1,500 KW and required a $12,000 (post-rebate) solar system, then my packback would be about 10 years. You can see how a change in the efficient use of electricity in the home might have unexpected and positive societal consquences. Suddenly, solar goes from being an expensive pipe dream to being a technology capable of delivering all the electricity needs of a homeowner at a reasonable cost.
Also, consider this. What if you could buy a home that cost $120/month to provide electricity for or a home that has a paid for solar system that provides free electricity. Obviously the solar house is going to be more valuable when it comes time to sell.
Other Home Renewable Options:
This is of course true for any home-based alternative energy power system from home-based wind power (this in an option in windy parts of the county, such as along the ocean) or micro-hydro (people with nearby streams can often tap the power of the stream to produce a small amount of electricity) or even a home-based fuel cell (as the fuel cell required would be much smaller and cheaper if electricity consumption was cut by 50% to 75%). Something as simple as a major advancement in lighting technology efficiency can have a very large ripple effect on the delivery end of a home-based alternative energy power systems.
Related Resources
- Sterling Energy Quotient (http://www.freeenergynews.com/Directory/free_energy.htm) - Proposal to establish a standard for determining the overall device gains, taking into consideration unit costs, energy tapping costs, renewability of energy source.
- Assessing the Life Cycle of Wind Turbine Production (http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=25113) - Denmark team determines a 6.8-month "payback" time, taking into consideration the production costs, transport and erection costs, operating and maintenance costs, disposal costs. (Renewable Energy Access; April 19, 2005)
- Energy Efficient Lighting Source (http://www.goodmart.com) - GoodMart offers lighting systems that feature stunning 100 lumen per watt energy efficiency such as Sylvania's Quicktronic High Efficiency ballast (http://www.goodmart.com/products/380597.htm) and Sylvania's 28W four foot super-saver T8 fluorescent tube (http://www.goodmart.com/products/380561.htm).
Directories
- Energy Conservation (http://www.energyplanet.info/Energy_Conservation/) - A visual directory of websites that provide energy efficiency and conservation information and services. (EnergyPlanet.info)
See Also
- Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Lithium Ion Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Lithium Sulphur Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Silver Polymer Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Proton Polymer Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Flywheels Directory at PESWiki
- Capacitors Directory at PESWiki
- Lithium Ion Batteries Directory at PESWiki
- Solar Energy Directory at PESWiki
- Light Emitting Diodes Directory at PESWiki
- Advanced Power Generation Directory at PESWiki
- Compact Fluorescent Directory at PESWiki
