California Energy Saving Ideas

Dennis Silverman

 California Energy Data

The Price of Power (L. A. Times, Jan. 19, 2001, p. A26), per hour, day or load

 
Small electric appliances 2 hours/day 1 cent a day
Color Television 3 hours/day 10 cents a day
Central Air Conditioner 3 hours/day $1.29 a day
Ceiling fan 3 hours/day 3 cents a day
Clothes washer 1 load 1 cent
Clothes dryer, electric 1 load 66 cents
Light bulb, 100 watt, incandescent 6 hours/day 7 cents a day
Dishwasher 1 load 12 cents
Refrigerator  25 cents a day
PC and monitor at low power state 1 hour 2 cents
Microwave (1,500 watt) 10 minutes 4 cents
Electric blanket 7 hours/day 70 cents
Laser printer 1 hour 3 cents
Floor photocopier 1 hour 8 cents
Fax machine 1 hour 2 cents

Yearly Power Usage (L. A. Times, from Alan Meier, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab)

 
Microwave  50 kilowatt hours
Electric Stove 600-800 kilowatt hours
Swimming Pool 4,000 kwh
Hot Tub 2,000 - 5,000 kwh
Aquarium (midsize unit, heater and lights) 1,000 kwh
Water bed heater 600 - 1,000 kwh
Air conditioner 1,000 - 5,000 kwh
Air cleaner 800 kwh
TV/VCR setup 1,000 kwh
Home Office (desktop computer, monitor, printer) 1,000 kwh