CFLs in the Sherwin Home

One Family’s Journey

Copyright © 2009 by Elton B. Sherwin

www.EltonSherwin.com

What Galvanized the Sherwin Family

into Action…The melting ice caps?Actually, it was…

$506 Electric Bill

Sherwin Family in Menlo ParkOne New Home

With basementTough building code

Two :StoriesRefrigeratorsPool pumpsGirlsDogsTiVosiPodsRechargeable flashlightsAC compressors

Three TVs & DVD playersFurnaces

FourPCsCellphonesClock radios

Innumerable Cordless phonesLight bulbsMotion detectors

And 12 Skylights

12 Outdoor Motion Detectors

Indoors

45 Motion Detectors

12 Timers

Guest Bathroom

Motion detector on left is from WattStopperAvailable at Home Depot or at WattStopper.com

And One $506 Electric Bill

Even with all the motion detectors and skylights

Looking for the Culprit

Make sure it says EZ.If it is not an EZ model,it is not EZ to use.

Available at Amazon.com.Links to many of the

products in this presentation are posted at

www.EltonSherwin.com

Couldn’t Find One CulpritDevice Month

Mom's desk light $8.65

Garage rechargeable flashlight $2.79

Entry walkway lights $4.57

Honeywell HEPA - MBR - HI $8.57

Honeywell - HEPA - medium $6.94

Garage refrigerator $19.09

Instant hot water heater $4.08

Dad’s PC & 3 transformers $12.70

Mom's PC & printer $16.40

Need to Take Action

Solar Option?

Cost of $29,822 (16 panels, $10.76/watt)Subsidy of $9,206Net cost is $20,616Produce 400 kWh/month22% of our usage$124 savings per month166 months (13 years) break evenSave 4,800+ lbs. CO2 per year

Reduce Consumption?

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2005 average 2006 average

Ave

rage

Mon

thly

Kw

h Sherwin Annual Consumption

We were consistent consumers

Part of the Problem ?

Reducing Consumption

Off toOrchard Hardware & Supply (OSH)ACE hardwareStanford ElectricSeven Trips to Home Depot

Removed 55 Bulbs

Bulbs Have Gotten Smaller

Home Depot’s Better Bulb

Home Depot’s Better Bulb

Formerly called n:visionNow called EcoSmartSome of the pictures in this presentation have old packaging

We tested 11 brandsHome Depot had better bulb

CFLs Have Gotten Better

Instant onNo flickerStarts at 60% brightness105% brightness of incandescentColor similar to incandescent soft whiteElton’s score: A-

Many Situations Indistinguishable

Nice Color

Large Packs Are a Deal

Fit Inside Most Harps

Cooler and Probably Safer

Cloth Lampshades

We use in Clip-on Shades

Smaller Than an Incandescent

Small Lamps

My daughter didn’t notice

Wall Sconces

Even in Some “Ceiling Cans”

Small Amount of Accent Lighting

14 watts vs. 65 watts The animals seem happy

Unnecessary Fixture That Gets Left On

Even Fit Some Clip-ons

“Red” PackageInstant onNo flickerStarts at 60% brightnessAfter 1 min 105%WHITER than incandescent soft whiteSome people preferUseful yellow lampshades and big roomsElton’s score: A-

Red vs. Green

Green = soft white Matches incandescent bulbs

Red = bright white

Big Yellow Lampshade in Big room

Brighter120W red +100W redReplaced 200W incandescent 70% savings

Also Have Baby Reds

Instant onNo flickerStarts at 60% brightnessAfter 1 min 105%Color WHITER than incandescent soft whiteElton’s score: A-

Reds work well: behind glasswith yellow lampshadeswith glaucoma

Who put in all these ceiling cans?

No wonder we had a $506 electric bill

But What Happened to the PG&E Bill?

PG&E Billing

$507$439

$306

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

December January February

Averaging $100 to $150a month in savings

Recommended Bulbs (A-)

Home Depot Red & Green SpiralsInstant on No flickerStart at 60% brightnessAfter 1 min 105%

Less success with other brands

70%+ Savings

Tough Problems

Ceiling CansClear fixturesDimmers

Green 40w

Instant onNo flickerStarts at 40%brightnessAfter 1 min 105%Color similar to incandescent soft whiteElton’s score: B-

Dimmer for first 30 seconds

Incandescent

Compact Fluorescent

I left two incandescent bulbs in place so the bathroom would brighten quickly

After 1 minute CFL is slightly brighter

Only One is Incandescent

I left one incandescent bulb in place so the kitchen island would brighten quickly

Back to Our Nemesis

The Halogen Spot

Best Available for Indoor Halogen ReplacementsInstant on - No flickerStarts at 35%brightnessAfter 1 min 100%Slightly more yellow than HalogenLarger bulb, less focusedElton’s score: B-Home Depot

Halogen Spot Replacement Need a CFL Spot w/ CLEAR Glass Front

50 W or 75 W 23 W

Adjust Ceiling Cans Up

Halogen Spot Replacement

50 W or 75 W 23 W

Two are 23 W CFLs One is 50 W Halogen

I left one halogen bulb in place so the kitchen counter would brighten quickly

Inexpensive Flood “Frosted Front” - Good in Hallways

Takes minute to get to full brightness

Starts at 35%brightness

Almost identical to incandescent 65W flood

Slightly wider beamAdjust ceiling can

B+ for always onRemove the dimmers

Best AvailableNice soft white colorNot instant on

Starts at 50%brightness

Dimmer must be on high to startLarger bulb, less focusedOften better to remove dimmersElton’s score: C

Available at Ace Hardware Dimmable Flood

On the Bleeding EdgeReady for most homes:

Par 20s - small floods w/ standard baseAce hardware has 3 different CFL versions

Still frustrating:Most dimmable CFLsMR-16 style – “flashlight” bulb w/ 2 pinsSpotlights – narrow beams

Most LEDs sold in retailWait a bit longer for residential applications

Motion Detectors & Timers

Work well with CFLsExtend CFL life in ceiling cans

Burn out fluorescent tubes in magneticballasts (which should be replaced anyway)

Rem

oved

20

Spo

ts

Removed an Additional 25 Bulbs

CFLs by the Numbers

Cost $463Subsidy (PG&E)) $145Consumer $318

Monthly Savings:KWH 359Bill - $.32 KWH $111Break even months 3Annual CO2 lbs reduction 4,304Cost per 1,000 lbs/year $108

PG&E CFL Subsidy Paid Directly to Home Depot

I didn’t even know my bulbs were subsidized

CFLs 60x Cost Efficient vs. Solar Reducing CO2

CFL SolarCost $463 $29,822Subsidy $145 $9,206Consumer $318 $20,616

Monthly Savings:KWH 359 400Bill - $.31KWH $111 $124Break even months 3 166Annual CO2 lbs reduction 4,304 4,800Cost per 1,000 lbs/year $108 $6,213

Hybrid Car is up to10x Cost Efficient vs. Solar Reducing CO2

CFL SolarHybrid

Car Cost $463 $29,822 $2,500Subsidy $145 $9,206 0Consumer $318 $20,616 $2,500

Monthly Savings: GasKWH or Gallons of Gas 359 400 17Bill - $.31KWH, $2.50 gal $111 $124 $42Break even months 3 166 60Annual CO2 lbs reduction 4,304 4,800 4000Cost per 1,000 lbs/year $108 $6,213 $625

Real-time MonitoringBlack & Decker Power Monitor

You can installCosts $1006% to 20% reduction

Read all the reviews on Amazon to make sure it is compatible with your meter

(Also sold as the Blue Line Power Cost Monitor)

Day After Installation

At 10:10 AM.

“It says I am using $1000 a month.”

“And nothing is on.I turned off all the lights.Nothing is on”

Except the Pool Pump

We were spending $1,000 a year moving water around

We bought an IntelliFlo pumpSpent $2,500Uses 1/8 the electricitySome are now under $1,200www.pentairpool.com

Impact of Sherwin Pool Pump on Global Climate

Useful Tools

Smart PowerStrips

For more information see www.EltonSherwin.com

Smart Power Strips

For more information see www.EltonSherwin.com

We all focus on electricity

Electricity is the largest part of our utility bill

But electricity is not the biggest part of the carbon footprint for

many Californians

60% Natural Gas

Don’t Forget Solar Hot Water

The Phoenix hot water hearer was the most efficient tank tested in the PG&E lab

Six items Dominate Sherwin Family Carbon Footprint

Air travel The “stuff” we buy*Gasoline Natural gas (for you it might be propane, heating oil, or wood) Electricity Beef and dairy

Focus on these six first

* This includes the electricity we use to run the product and the energy used to manufacture, transport and dispose of it.

A Word About Commercial Lighting

Houston Skyline

Lighting is the #1 or #2 Largest User of Electricity in Most Buildings in America

Commercial Lighting

44% of the Electricity in Health Care Facilities is Lighting

Incandescent Bulbs Still Widely Used

60+ Coal- fired plants domestically

250+ Coal-fired plants worldwide

Halogen spots and MR16s continue to be popular

Local Retail Done Correctly

Draegers – Menlo ParkOver 1,000 bulbs replaced2 month break even

Northface – in Palo AltoTest location for their retail stores

Good Better BEST

A word about fluorescent tubes: NARROWER IS BETTERNever use magnetic ballasts. Electronic ballasts are quieter, more efficient, and eliminate flicker.

Fluorescent Tubes

Electronic vs. Magnetic Ballasts (for tubes)

Electronic ballasts are more efficient than magnetic ballasts … resulting in an overall lamp-ballast system efficacy increase of 15% to 20%.Other advantages of the electronic ballast include reduced weight, quieter operation, and reduced lamp flicker. Electronic ballasts are directly interchangeable with magnetic ballasts. (From LBNL website)You should always use electronic ballasts, especially with motion detectors.

Good Better BEST

84% of a Building’s Carbon Footprint Comes from its Utility Bill

Utilities are #1 Emitters of Greenhouse Gases in America

84% of a Building’s Carbon Footprint Comes from its Utility BillLightingWindowsHVACHot WaterPCs & Appliances

Focus on Your Utility Bill

Many LEED Buildings Fall Short

“LEED certification is not yielding any significant reduction in GHG

emission by commercial buildings.”

John H. Scofield, Oberlin College

A Re-examination of the NBI LEED Building Energy Consumption Study

If You Want to Be Green Lower the Utility Bill

LightingWindowsHVACHot WaterPCs & Appliances

And:• Eat less beef• Use less gasoline• Shop wisely• Don’t fly to useless meetings

For more information see www.EltonSherwin.com