Whilst
lighting is not the most substantial contributor to your energy bill,
savings can be made by switching to energy efficient options. The
following table shows that an average house can save over $100 a year
in electricity costs by switching to compact fluorescents in rooms
where the light is on for long periods. Whilst more expensive to buy
they last longer and should pay for themselves in a little over a
year.
| |
Incandescent globes
|
Energy saving lamps
|
Savings
|
| Room |
Number and size |
Running cost per
year |
Number and size |
Running cost per
year |
Cost savings per
year |
Reductions of CO2
kg per year |
| Kitchen |
1x100W |
$26 |
1x25W |
$6 |
$20 |
95 |
| Living room |
2x75W |
$39 |
2x18W |
$9 |
$30 |
145 |
| Study |
1x75W |
$19 |
1x18W |
$5 |
$14 |
72 |
| |
1x60W
(desk lamp) |
$15 |
1x15W |
$4 |
$11 |
57 |
| Children's bedroom |
1x75W |
$19 |
1x18W |
$5 |
$14 |
72 |
| |
1x60W
(desk lamp) |
$15 |
1x15W |
$4 |
$11 |
57 |
| Passage |
1x40W |
$10 |
1x12W |
$3 |
$7 |
37 |
| TOTAL |
|
$143 |
|
$36 |
$107 |
535 |
*Estimates based on 4 hours use per day, electricity tariff of 17.611 c/kWh and greenhouse intensity of 0.87kg CO2.
Switching to energy efficient lighting will not only save you money,
but will also help protect the environment.
In WA, a significant proportion of electricity is generated by burning fossil
fuels such as coal and gas which in turn produce carbon dioxide. For every
unit of electricity produced, around 3 units of fuel must be burnt at the
power station and as a result, around 1 kg of carbon dioxide is produced.
If all of WA households replaced just one 75W incandescent globe used
for four hours each day with an 18W compact fluorescent lamp, greenhouse
gas emissions would be reduced by over 55,000 tonnes each year. This
is equivalent to taking over 12,000 cars off the road!
 |
