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A blog dedicated to discovering and promoting methods and solutions to save energy and to live sustainable in Australia.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
How much will I save on LED Downlights ?
With the Energy Prices tipped to increase and the Carbon tax also primed for introduction in 2012, it's time to start changing the way you live.
One way to help keep energy costs down is to invest in Energy efficient LED downlights.
Just how much can you save ?? See below ;
The table below is based on the following assumptions ;
One way to help keep energy costs down is to invest in Energy efficient LED downlights.
Just how much can you save ?? See below ;
The table below is based on the following assumptions ;
- Average of 4hrs use per night during peak times
- A 50Watt halogen downlight used
- 21c per KW/hour
- 320 Days per year (allowing for holidays)
Number of lights | Current Kw/H used | Current Cost | Replacement LED | New Kwh used | Cost | Savings Per Annum |
1 | 64 | $13.44 | 6W | 7.68 | $1.61 | $11.83 |
5 | 320 | $67.20 | 6W | 38.40 | $8.05 | $55.37 |
10 | 640 | $134.40 | 6W | 76.80 | $16.10 | $118.30 |
1 | 64 | $13.44 | 9W | 11.52 | $2.41 | $11.03 |
5 | 320 | $67.20 | 9W | 57.60 | $12.09 | $55.11 |
10 | 640 | $134.40 | 9W | 115.2 | $24.19 | $110.21 |
 |
| Room with 12 X 9W Cool White LED Downlights |
The Advantages of LED Lighting
When designed properly, an LED circuit will approach 80% efficiency, which means 80% of the electrical energy is converted to light energy.
There is no comparison between the cost of LED lights vs. traditional incandescent options. With incandescent bulbs, the true cost of the bulb is the cost of replacement bulbs and the labor expense and time needed to replace them. These are significant factors, especially where there are a large number of installed bulbs. For office buildings and skyscrapers, maintenance costs to replace bulbs can be enormous. These issues can all be virtually eliminated with the LED option.
The key strength of LED lighting is reduced power consumption. When designed properly, an LED circuit will approach 80% efficiency, which means 80% of the electrical energy is converted to light energy. The remaining 20% is lost as heat energy. Compare that with incandescent bulbs which operate at about 20% efficiency (80% of the electrical energy is lost as heat). In real money terms, if a 100 Watt incandescent bulb is used for 1 year, with an electrical cost of 10 cents/kilowatt hour, $88 will be spent on electricity costs. Of the $88 expense, $70 will have been used to heat the room, not light the room. If an 80% efficient LED system had been used, the electricity cost would be $23 per year - there would be a cost savings of $65 on electricity during the year. Realistically the cost savings would be higher as most incandescent light bulbs blow out within a year and require replacements whereas LED light bulbs can be used easily for a decade without burning out.
Our white LED lights currently come in packages which contain 36 or 48 LED lamps and can be adapted for use with any power supply or casing. Our clusters allow for conversion to operate from all common caving batteries, e.g. FX5/Kirby pack down to two AA cells, in case portability is needed. We have produced a seven-LED cluster light source as an alternative to low wattage light bulbs and a possible portable light source.
The main limitation to the adoption of white LED lighting as a lighting standard is the current high cost of led bulbs. Although the cost keeps going down, LED light bulbs are still expensive. A single AC bulb (17 LED), replacing a 25 watt incandescent, will cost about $40. Although LED's are expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in energy cost savings. Factor in that it is significantly cheaper to maintain led lights, the best value comes from commercial use where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive. Traffic lights and outdoor signs, for example, are being switched over to LED's in many cities. Smaller arrays, such as those in flashlights, headlamps and small task lights are great for specialty and outdoor use. LED based automotive headlights are current being used in high end luxury cars.
It will be interesting to see what developments are coming for more residential applications of LED lights. LED lighting technology has been researched and developed for the past two decades and we are beginning to see practical applications from this work. There is already wide spread use of LED traffic signs and LED headlights where a premium is placed on a reliable light source that is cheaper and less labor intensive to maintain. We in the industry are certain that tomorrows LED lights will last longer and consume even less power than todays energy efficient led light bulbs. LED lighting will be used to replace virtually every type of light, bulb, and lamp that is currently in use.
Advantages of LED Lights
The operational life of current white LED lamps is 100,000 hours. This is 11 years of continuous operation, or 22 years of 50% operation. The long operational life of an led lamp is a stark contrast to the average life of an incandescent bulb, which is approximately 5000 hours. If the lighting device needs to be embedded into a very inaccessible place, using LEDs would virtually eliminate the need for routine bulb replacement.There is no comparison between the cost of LED lights vs. traditional incandescent options. With incandescent bulbs, the true cost of the bulb is the cost of replacement bulbs and the labor expense and time needed to replace them. These are significant factors, especially where there are a large number of installed bulbs. For office buildings and skyscrapers, maintenance costs to replace bulbs can be enormous. These issues can all be virtually eliminated with the LED option.
The key strength of LED lighting is reduced power consumption. When designed properly, an LED circuit will approach 80% efficiency, which means 80% of the electrical energy is converted to light energy. The remaining 20% is lost as heat energy. Compare that with incandescent bulbs which operate at about 20% efficiency (80% of the electrical energy is lost as heat). In real money terms, if a 100 Watt incandescent bulb is used for 1 year, with an electrical cost of 10 cents/kilowatt hour, $88 will be spent on electricity costs. Of the $88 expense, $70 will have been used to heat the room, not light the room. If an 80% efficient LED system had been used, the electricity cost would be $23 per year - there would be a cost savings of $65 on electricity during the year. Realistically the cost savings would be higher as most incandescent light bulbs blow out within a year and require replacements whereas LED light bulbs can be used easily for a decade without burning out.
Our white LED lights currently come in packages which contain 36 or 48 LED lamps and can be adapted for use with any power supply or casing. Our clusters allow for conversion to operate from all common caving batteries, e.g. FX5/Kirby pack down to two AA cells, in case portability is needed. We have produced a seven-LED cluster light source as an alternative to low wattage light bulbs and a possible portable light source. The main limitation to the adoption of white LED lighting as a lighting standard is the current high cost of led bulbs. Although the cost keeps going down, LED light bulbs are still expensive. A single AC bulb (17 LED), replacing a 25 watt incandescent, will cost about $40. Although LED's are expensive, the cost is recouped over time and in energy cost savings. Factor in that it is significantly cheaper to maintain led lights, the best value comes from commercial use where maintenance and replacement costs are expensive. Traffic lights and outdoor signs, for example, are being switched over to LED's in many cities. Smaller arrays, such as those in flashlights, headlamps and small task lights are great for specialty and outdoor use. LED based automotive headlights are current being used in high end luxury cars.It will be interesting to see what developments are coming for more residential applications of LED lights. LED lighting technology has been researched and developed for the past two decades and we are beginning to see practical applications from this work. There is already wide spread use of LED traffic signs and LED headlights where a premium is placed on a reliable light source that is cheaper and less labor intensive to maintain. We in the industry are certain that tomorrows LED lights will last longer and consume even less power than todays energy efficient led light bulbs. LED lighting will be used to replace virtually every type of light, bulb, and lamp that is currently in use.
Type of LED Downlights
| Simple Diagram showing the different type of LED Fittings with Illustrations and dimensions | |||||||||||||||||||
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Energy saving advices for your kids - part II
Teach kids where energy comes from: Together as a family, search online for answers about where your energy comes from. Do they know how coal is produced? Do they understand what kind of energy the fridge uses? Find out together – then let your children know that some energy supplies are finite, and they’re running out fast.
Call a family meeting and discuss practical ways that you can save energy around the house: Put a big piece of paper in the middle of the table and get your kids to write down their ideas in magic marker. Afterwards put the poster on the kitchen wall so everyone can see it. Remember that this includes adults too! So, if your kids resolve to shut down the computer an hour early, promise to leave your mobile off for an extra hour every night, then see if everyone can keep their energy-saving promises - and if so celebrate with a fun family treat. Don’t promise too much to start off with! It can be more difficult than you think to rid yourself off some addictive energy-consuming devices.
Have as switched off evening: If your average evening sees you working on your laptop while the kids are in the front room texting on their mobiles or playing console games, then the chances are that you could do with a carbon detox. As a family, commit to one night a week where you all pledge to switch off the TV and shut down other energy-guzzling equipment. Try and choose a family-friendly activity you could all do instead. Maybe it’s the perfect time to help the kids with the homework. Also, don’t forget that a story read aloud as a family can be just as awesome as watching TV.
Also, if the weather is good, why not eat in the garden or go for a family ramble. Both are fun – and the only energy you use will be your own!
Energy saving advices for your kids
Sure, it's easy to save energy, water, to eat healthier, to recycle more, and so on.
But most of us are adults, and we think and see things in a specific way - more mature, one could say.How about kids though? They play and destroy their toys, play computer games, leave the lights on, water running.... sounds terrible, doesn't it? Well, it is time we take action!
That's why I decided to make this list of advices (followable advices :) ) to give your kids:
But most of us are adults, and we think and see things in a specific way - more mature, one could say.How about kids though? They play and destroy their toys, play computer games, leave the lights on, water running.... sounds terrible, doesn't it? Well, it is time we take action!
That's why I decided to make this list of advices (followable advices :) ) to give your kids:
Discard batteries to a specialized disposal area: batteries that are thrown away produce most of the heavy metals - dangerous substances like lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, and mercury - that are found in household trash. These metals are toxic. They can be harmful to humans and wildlife. When discarded batteries from our trash wind up in landfills, these dangerous metals can seep into the ground water and eventually into the food chain. So, instead of throwing batteries in the trash, we should all take them to a toxic waste disposal area, if at all possible.
Turn off the toys and games (like GameBoys TM) that use batteries when you are not playing with them. That makes the batteries last longer, and you won't need as many of them. Forty percent of all battery sales are made during the holiday season. Give holiday gifts that do not require batteries (wooden toys are excellent - I loved mine! :D )
Also, buy rechargeable batteries and a recharger.
Energy-saving ideas for school: consider creating a weekly "energy monitor" - someone who's job it is to make sure lights are out when there's no one in a room. He or she can also make sure that machines are turned off when not being used.
Also, kids are curious, so you might want to motivate them with these (geeky :P) energy saving fun facts:
- A heavy coat of dust on a light bulb can block up to half of the light.
- In Australia, home refrigerators use the electricity of 5 large power plants every year.
- A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 320 litres month. That's more than one person uses in two weeks.
- An energy-smart clothes washer can save more water in one year than one person drinks in an entire lifetime!
- When you turn on an incandescent light bulb, only 10 percent of the electricity used is turned into light. The other 90 percent is wasted as heat.
- A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a regular bulb – and it can last up to four years.
- Some new refrigerators are so energy-smart they use less electricity than a light bulb!
- An automatic dishwasher uses less hot water than doing dishes by hand - an average of six gallons less, or more than 3,000 litres per year.
- Every time you open the refrigerator door, up to 30 percent of the cold air can escape.
You can also suggest fun online games about saving energy from these websites:
Good luck!
The Eco Buttons - what are they and what do they do?
Have you ever asked yourself how much energy you waste by leaving your PC sitting idle while you're away from your desk? Quite a lot it seems, and all of it adds up over the years creating a hefty carbon footprint. Computers and monitors can account for a lot of electricity: a single monitor left switched on overnight can use the same amount of energy as a laser printer producing 800 A4 printed copies.
According to a recent study, 500,000 computers in Australia are regularly left on unnecessarily, wasting around half a billion of kWh of energy, approximately 35 million AUD, or around 150,000 tons of carbon (the same as emitted by 60,000 cars!)
All this waste of electricity can be easily avoided by adopting simple energy saving policies and by using energy saving devices like the Ecobutton - with one small click, a huge amount of CO2 emissions could be avoided. For example, a home user running a single desktop computer can make a valuable contribution by saving up to 135kg of CO2 per year and approximately 150 AUD in electricity by using the Ecobutton regularly.
How does it work?
The Ecobutton sits next to your keyboard. It connects to your computer via a USB cable, and when used, puts your computer into the most economical sleep mode (usually Level 3 Standby, as opposed to Level 1 Standby which most desktop computers are routinely set to use and which still uses 50% of PC power). Ecobutton's software also records how many carbon units and how much power and money you have saved by using it. By pressing any key on your keyboard your computer is returned instantly to where you left off. As soon as you resume work, the ecobutton™ will show you just how much energy and how many dollars you've saved; also, it will calculate your CO2 emission savings! The potential is amazing - one small click can really make one big change!
It is a retrofit device, so it will work on any PC running Windows 7, 2000, XP and Vista (including laptops, and PCs with wireless keyboards - but not Macs just yet), and regardless of how energy efficient your IT system may be, the Ecobutton will contribute to further savings. The Ecobutton is designed to be used with desktop PCs mainly, as laptops generally already use Level 3 Standby. However it's still useful for laptops if you have power saving disabled, or if your laptop doesn't use Level 3 Standby. Also some older computers may have difficulty in reactivation. This is a problem with the computer bios and not the Ecobutton software. Moreover, the Ecobutton can also be used in simple networked environments, depending on the type of network and the software being run.
Is it useful?
You wouldn't normally shut down your PC because you were chatting on the phone for ten minutes, or because you went for a quick cup of coffee – but the fact is, even in "energy saving mode" your computer is still burning away precious electricity which costs our planet dearly in CO2 emissions. Unless of course, you have the Ecobutton!
With one push of the Ecobutton your computer will shut down all functions that draw power, except for the minimum amount of memory your machine needs. It also runs on just 1.8 watts of power, which is much, much less than your normal standby mode could manage.
Trees will reach out and hug you! Polar bears will carve your name in the ice! OK, possibly not. But, you will be a part of the solution rather than the problem, and that's got to feel awesome.
When you can't flick the off-switch, hit the Ecobutton! And of course, the Ecobutton is manufactured from recycled plastic.
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