Traffic Lights

Learning energy conservation produces surprises. For example, today I returned some DVDs to the Library, which is about three miles away. There are six traffic lights between here and there; a simple calculation shows that they would use nine times as much electricity as we use in our house if they were still all incandescent (I mean all of our electricity, not just our lights). When they all convert to LED, they will be using only a little more than what our house uses.

The large cost savings from LED traffic signals is well documented. What I didn't realize is the change in where the money goes. The cost of an incandescent light is trivial compared to the cost of the electricity it uses, while the cost of the LED signal is significantly higher than the electricity. Conversion to LED takes money from the electric company and gives it to the lighting manufacturer.

Mnemonic

Something else that could go into a newsletter:

Everyone should do their BIT to save energy:

Buy low-energy items
Include energy conservation in building and remodeling plans.
Turn things off when not in use (or lower the power it that’s not possible)

You will save money and do a favor for the environment.

Elevators

A little bit of encouragement that I gave to my colleagues:

You stand by the elevator and read the poster “Walk up one and walk down two for your health”. You will also save lots of electricity - elevators are energy hogs. Each one uses a much power as hundreds of light bulbs. So walk up one and walk down two and save energy.

Technology Advances

Every day I read about a new technological advance in energy. Some days more than one. And I don't even try very hard to find them. My only regret is that I am too old to help develop new materials for energy-saving advances.

Nuclear Power

16 Jan. 2008 - It's ironic that nuclear power is the most effective counter to climate change. Yet the most active proponents of fighting global warming tend to loathe nuclear power, while its strongest advocates are skeptical of human influence on weather.

Who I Am

15 Jan 2008 - I am a retired metallurgist, who specialized in fracture of metals and ceramics when working. A lot of my work was for energy applications, such as safety of nuclear reactors, supertankers, and gas-transmission pipelines. I have been the alternative energy specialist for the League of Women Voters of Ohio for the past year. We are currently gathering information on what cities in Ohio are doing to save energy. I'd appreciate hearing form anyone, anywhere as to what their city is doing.