Computer Use, Worst Case Scenario, Putting lights off at lunch, Conclusions
We have only illustrated energy savings that could be made in the home, however, modern offices are huge consumers of energy with its PCs, photocopiers and printers. We have also illustrated that just because appliances are on 'standby' mode they are not always saving energy.
From current employment figures some simple assumptions are made regarding use of computers in the workplace - assumed that for jobs such as agriculture and mining only 1 in 10 people (10%) would use computers, most likely administration staff. While for other industries there would be a much larger proportion of staff using computers, assumed 5 out of 10 (50%). These figures are indicative only just to establish possible CO2 emissions due to computers left on standby in the workplace.
i) Assuming 42% of the working population regularly work on a computer, most of which are never switched off properly. This means that on average 58,896,634 kWh of electricity are wasted each year, one computer (standby rating 6.9watts) wastes 60 kWh per year.
Taking into account printers, photocopiers and fax machines it is approximated
that appliances in offices use 63,876,168 kWh of electricity whilst on
standby every year. (See table below)
ii) As mentioned earlier 45% of Scotland's electricity is produced from fossil fuels - so figure needs to be adjusted to reflect this.
0.45 x 63,876,168 kWh /
year = 28,744,275 kWh/year
iii) For fossil fuels every kWh of electricity produces 0.97 kg of CO2
0.97 x 28,744,275 kWh / year = 27,911,046 kWh/year
iv) Annual reduction in emissions due to switching hall lights off in the morning
0.70 % of Household CO2
Emissions (6.9% of 3,983,250,000 kg)
0.038 % of Total CO2 Emissions (Scottish total = 72,300,000,000 kg)
These examples have illustrated some of the main contributing factors to unnecessarily electricity generation and carbon dioxide emissions.
Using the worst possible standby figures would demonstrate a potential saving of 3,408,425,013 kg and would result in the yearly CO2 emissions in Scotland being reduced to 68,893,776,927 kg from 72,300,000,000kg.
This is a saving of 4.9% just from reducing computer standby load in industry alone.
From the employment figures (2,215,000 people) for Scotland it can be estimated that there are approximately 1,107,500 people working indoors in Scotland. We will assume that half of them switch off a light during there lunch hour. Switching a light off that would normally be on for one hour a day would save £1.49 a year and also prevent the emission of 9.56kg of CO2 per year.
i) If half of the workforce that worked indoors this would prevent the use of 21.9 kWh for every light bulb switched off. So across Scotland this would be saving approximately.
21.9 kWh x 553,750 houses = 12,127,125 kWh/year
ii) As mentioned earlier
45% of Scotland's electricity is produced from fossil fuels - so figure
needs to be adjusted to reflect this.
0.45 x 12,127,125 kWh/year = 5,457,206 kWh/year
iii) For fossil fuels every kWh of electricity produces 0.97 kg of CO2
0.97kg x 5,457,206 kWh/year
= 5,293,490 kg/CO2
Annual reduction in emissions due to switching hall lights off in the
morning
0.13 % of Household CO2
Emissions (0.13% of 3,983,250,000 kg)
0.007 % of Total CO2 Emissions (Scottish total = 72,300,000,000 kg)
We have illustrated simple measures that can help reduce energy in the home. Significant reductions can be achieved simply through good housekeeping. The simple worked examples suggest how savings can be achieved or demonstrate techniques that can be applied elsewhere to show what results can be achieved.
The only real way to save energy is to switch appliances off. This may mean not switching them on till you are ready to use them - many people switch computers on first thing in the morning and don't use them until later. Get into the habit of switching your computer off over lunch or any other time when not in use - at least switch the monitor off.