Power Consumption of Household Appliances
It is easy to flick a light switch, push the power button on the microwave, or get a cold soda out of the fridge. It is also easy to see how much total electricity you use per month. That comes on your bill, along with perhaps an ever-increasing price tag. But do you know how you are using all of the electricity? Or how much do everyday appliances cost you each year to run?
Have you ever went on vacation and left a standard 60 watt light bulb on for the week? That cost you $1.31 based on average Maryland-DC electricity costs.
How about your refrigerator? Well that depends on what model you have. Refrigerators from the late 80’s cost about $123.50 a year to power. For models from the 90’s and beyond, energy efficient refrigerators cost between $52 and $91 per year on average.
And what about that new 52” LCD Television? If you are the average household that has the TV running 5.2 hours a day, you run a yearly tab of around $42.
If you know how much your appliances cost to power, you can make better decisions about your energy consumption. You can see how upgrading to energy-efficient appliances can drastically cut your bill. Or, you might just think twice about using your appliances at the same frequency. For example, using a coffee maker to brew a pot of coffee a day will cost, on average, $3 a month. That’s $36 a year in electricity for your coffee– perhaps it’s time to try instant? Or, if you like all your gadgets, maybe it is time to schedule an energy audit and see how solar power can save you money while you enjoy all the benefits of technology.
For those that want to do some serious investigating, here is the formula you can use to calculate the costs of your appliances:
(wattage / 1000) x hours used per day x electricity cost = the appliance’s daily cost
The two things you will need to know is the wattage of the appliance and your electricity cost per kWh. Wattage can be found on the back, or inside, most appliances. If not, you can usually search online to find industry averages. For your electricity cost, you will want to consult your electricity bill.
For a 60 watt light bulb that was left on for a week:
60watts / 1000 = .06kWh
.06kWh x 24 hours = 1.44kWh to run the light bulb for a day.
1.44kWh x .13 (the average cost per kWh in Maryland-DC) = $.1872 per day
$.1872 per day x 7 days = $1.3104 per week to run a 60 watt light bulb.
Now, if you want to start making the meter run backwards, you can start considering using solar power through net metering.
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Earth Day Round-Up
You most likely knew that April 22nd was Earth Day but did you know that the month of April is “Earth Month”?
Many events were held all over Maryland (even one of our own!) where people celebrated green jobs, clean energy, organic gardening, recycling and much more. Here are a few highlights around town:
Elkridge Solar Firm Launches Nonprofit Coalition to Lobby for More Clean Energy
Solar Energy World became convinced that community activism would have to be part of their business strategy before their rooftop solar panels would gain wide acceptance. In short, they realized they had to first win the hearts and minds of voters if clean energy–principally solar, geothermal and wind–would garner the same tax incentives oil and coal companies received.
Read more about Solar Energy World and the launch of the Clean Energy Coalition>>
To learn more about the Clean Energy Coalition>>
Here is a clip from the press conference with Solar Energy World guests, Maryland Delegate James Malone and Jim Pierobon from the Maryland Clean Energy Center:
BWI Gets Eight Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Earth Day
Gov. Martin O’Malley celebrated Earth Day on Friday by announcing the installation of eight electric vehicle charging stations at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Read more about the BWI EV Charging Stations>>
All over Montgomery County Earth Day was being celebrated! – brought to you by Patch
Congressman Chris Van Hollen and professional artists from Montgomery County stressed the importance of art to young people and to the community as VisArts at Rockville hosted an awards ceremony for the 8th Congressional District Art Competition for High School Students on Tuesday.
A new community garden will give 50 families the chance to grow and harvest their own food. County Executive Isiah Leggett, as well as community and religious leaders, were on hand at the Emory Grove garden to break ground on Saturday..
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Community Solar Gardens
Last August, the nation’s first community solar garden was activated in El Jebel, Colorado. Three hundred forty solar panels collectively owned by local residents is the first of its kind and may spur similar innovative projects to launch.
Community solar gardens allow residents of condos, shaded homes, or those who want to reap the benefits of solar energy. Participants can take use solar energy without a large up-front investment. There are many policies surrounding community solar gardens that have to be considered with such an extensive project.
The land in El Jebel was otherwise unusable, making it the perfect site for solar panels. Clean Energy Collective (CEC) sold the parcels of solar to residents for as little as $725. CEC predicts a 67% increase of community solar energy in the next five years.
Would you participant in a community solar garden? What would the pros and cons be for you?
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Springing into Solar
There’s a reason why spring is the hot time for hiring in the alternative energy field – people are ready to invest in solar! While you’re planning your spring cleaning, consider adding solar panels to your to do list. Spring is a great time to optimize the extended daylight hours as the final spots of snow melt away and allow solar panels to absorb more light.
With systems that we design and install, there is very little maintenance. Photovoltaic solar systems are inherently very low-maintenance, requiring the system owner only to wash the solar modules down with water when they get dirty so light can get through. If you already own panels, spring is a good time to give them a quick spray to remove any dirt and debris left from winter.
Another exciting reason to welcome spring? President Obama has agreed to have solar panels installed on the White House this season, which officials anticipate will include 25-75 panels and will convert sunlight into 19,700 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. That would equal about $2,300 in saving per year for a residential home in Washington, D.C. Although the cost to outfit solar panels on the White House would cost approximately $100,000, that money would be earned back in just five years.
Ready to spring in to solar? Give us a call or fill out the Contact form!
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Upcoming Local Solar Workshops
Interested in solar but want to learn more? Feel free to attend one of our upcoming local solar workshops!
- Thurs., March 10 at 6 PM: Green Drinks Columbia at Ranazul, 8171 Maple Lawn Blvd., Maple Lawn MD 20759… Come to learn about solar in a short presentation and mingle with eco-minded folks. The first 20 people get a free drink and we are raffling off a free energy audit! Bring friends and get more chances to win!
- Thurs., March 24 at 7 PM: King Farm Community Workshop, 300 Saddle Ridge Circle, Rockville, MD 20850… Learn about how affordable solar power can be in a workshop tailored to Montgomery County residents, and specifically King Farm.
- Mon., April 18 from 8 AM to 4 PM: Towson University. In this community sustainability conference, come and learn about solar energy, local environmental initiatives, and hear from students and faculty about Towson’s efforts at going green!
- Thurs., April 21 at 6:30 PM: Anne Arundel County’s Quiet Waters Park Lecture Series. Visit this workshop to learn about our efforts in the community in Anne Arundel County, and for more information on solar power for residents and business owners.
They are all free! Hope to see you soon, and please feel free to forward widely.
For our online, on-demand solar energy workshop, please visit our tutorial!
For more information on any of these workshops, or to submit an idea for a future venue, contact Evin Phoenix, Community Outreach Coordinator at ePhoenix@solareworld.com
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Green Living: Solar Energy Powering New Orleans’ Make It Right Homes
Nearly six years have passed since Hurricane Katrina pounded the Gulf Coast and caused miles of destruction in the city of New Orleans, including the 9th Ward. Make It Right has garnered national attention due in part to the participation of actor Brad Pitt, but the environmentally friendly construction is admirable, as well.
Homes in the 9th Ward are equipped with rooftop solar panels that generate 2.7-3.0 KW of energy. The systems over-produce energy, allowing homeowners to gain credits that reduce their monthly energy bill.
You can read more about solar panels on homes in New Orleans at Make It Right’s website: http://www.makeitrightnola.org/index.php/building_green/detail/energy_efficient_features/
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Green Living: Solar’s Impact on Haiti
By now, many have forgotten the devastation that occurred from the earthquake in Haiti, but a feature from the April/May issue of Home Power magazine focused on the impact that solar energy is having there. For example, many hospitals and medical centers lacked power immediately following the earthquake, and continue to be without. Washington, DC-based non-profit Solar Electric Light Fund (www.self.org) has diverted solar equipment originally intended for clinics in Cerca la Source and Hinche has been to an emergency field hospital in Port-au- Prince.
For information about other solar non-profits and tech companies, check out Home Power’s article.
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What you can do to reduce your carbon footprint
In the spirit of the upcoming 10/10/10 Global Work Party, we’ve gathered together some environmental tips, facts, and other information we can all do right away to help reduce our carbon footprint.
So, what is global warming and why is it such a big deal? The folks at 350.org tell us “Global warming is caused by releasing what are called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The most common greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide. Many of the activities we do every day like turn the lights on, cook food, or heat or cool our homes rely on the combustion of fossil fuels like coal and oil, which emit carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases when burned. This is a major problem because global warming destabilizes the delicate balance that makes life on this planet possible. ”
To some “going green” feels like a undertaking but we’ve gathered some information about what you can do to curb your carbon footprint and work towards a greener planet – and some are rather simple, really. Here they are:
10 Green Home Improvement Resolutions You Must Make Right Now
Why not make some resolutions now that will help you lower your carbon footprint and increase the energy-efficiency of your home throughout the winter and for years to come. You know what they say, “If you can’t change yourself, you can at least change the environment in which you live.” Nobody actually says that…
15 Ways to Practice Water Conservation at Home
Water is a precious commodity, and Americans and Canadians use more water per capita than people in any other part of the world. A lot of the water we use is wasted, but you can save a lot of water between simple adjustments…
Interview With The Authors of The Carbon-Free Home
This beautiful two-story house produces enough energy to fill all of their energy needs and is outfitted with all kinds of ingenious projects straight from their book. In front, a garden grows everything from artichokes to pomegranates, while chickens roam around in the backyard.
Wanting to learn more about how you can reduce your carbon footprint?
Join us at the Kentlands 350 Global Work Party.
When: Sunday, October 10th, 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Whole Foods Market Cafe – 316 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Pre-register for Kentlands 350 Global Work Party
What is Kentlands 350?
Let’s celebrate climate solutions. Join Whole Foods Market, Solar Energy World and Greenavise at a 10/10/10 Global Work Party. Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint by powering your home with 100% renewable solar power and teach your children the importance of the number 350 through an art project.
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Green Living: Green Cleaning Products
Too often, when we’re trying to live a greener lifestyle, it’s easy to overlook the everyday objects that we use in our lives, concentrating only on bigger things like our cars or houses. Yet using organic household products can have a huge impact on the environment.
Think about this: The average American uses about 40 pounds of toxic household cleaning products each year (according to http://charityguide.org). These products are filled with chemicals and metals that can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, as well as serious damage to a person’s internal organs. Unless exposed directly, damage can occur slowly over time, so we may not always see the effects right away. Additionally, the chemicals from these products inevitably find their way into our water supply, which we then ingest when we drink water from the tap, use it in our cooking, or even wash ourselves.
There are several companies out there who make and sell organic cleaning products, but you can also save money while saving the environment when you make your own. The website EarthEasy.com has some great recipes for making your own cleaning products, but here’s a list of environmentally safe products you can use without having to do any mixing. Be aware, though, even if these products are environmentally sound to use, some of them are dangerous if ingested! Keep them out of the reach of children.
- Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
- Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
- Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
- Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
- White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
- Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
- Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
- Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP) - a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals, and it does not create any fumes.
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Green Living: Green Transportation
Many consumers are enthralled with the idea of driving a hybrid vehicle, one that runs on electricity as much as gas.
But other sustainable modes of transportation abound. Just check out this long list of land, sea and air vehicles that are all striving for more eco-friendly modes of transportation. Our favorites? The solar-powered ones of course!
Of course, some of these are a little over-the-top or not fully applicable (at least not yet). If one of these vehicles don’t appeal to you, then we hope you’ll think about walking or biking to your destinations instead of driving. You can help curb carbon emissions, and you’ll feel great doing it!
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