Myths of Going Green
By Don | October 5, 2009
Imagine my surprise yesterday when I was reading the business section of the Washington Post to find a list of 10 green myths.
It wasn't the fact that a list like this existed because I'm sure there are plenty of them floating around from various sources it was just seeing them in the Washington Post. Now the Post didn't produce this list, it came from Kiplinger's but still I have to give them credit for printing it and risking the ire of a majority of their subscribers.
Here are a few of the myths. You will need to go to Kiplinger's for the entire article.
Myth: Never leave the lights on when you leave a room.
Reality: Mom had it right when it comes to incandescent bulbs, but not compact fluorescent lights. The more often you switch CFLs on and off, the shorter their operating life. In most parts of the U.S., it’s cheaper to leave fluorescents on if you’ll only be out of the room for 15 minutes or less, according to the Department of Energy www.energysavers.gov. (In areas with high electric rates or during peak demand periods, the length of time may shorten to just 5 minutes.) On average, a CFL bulb costs $2.50 more than an incandescent bulb, but it will save $5.41 annually on your electric bill compared with an incandescent, according to DOE.
If you haven’t converted to CFLs because you fear pollution from the mercury they contain, keep in mind that generating electricity is the main source of mercury emissions in the U.S. A 60-watt light bulb will use 480 kilowatt hours of electricity and contribute almost 6 milligrams of mercury to the environment over its lifetime, according to Energy Star. A CFL will use less than a fourth of the electricity and result in a third of the mercury emissions. For more information on properly disposing of CFLs, visit www.energystar.gov/cfls.
Myth: You can trust product labels that say “green,” “eco-friendly,” “earth smart” and the like.
Reality: The green-washing machine loves to crank out vague marketing terms, and the Federal Trade Commission has begun to crack down on environmental claims that fail the regulatory smell test (visit http://www.ftc.gov and search “Sorting Out Green Advertising Claims”. Manufacturers have begun to improve the labeling, consumer information and advice on their Web sites, including lists and definitions of ingredients. Also look for the EPA’s Design for the Environment label.
Myth: Switching to solar is a great way to achieve energy savings.
Reality: Solar systems, even with government incentives, are expensive. The owner of a typical single-family home in the U.S. wastes almost $350 annually on heated or cooled air that escapes to the outdoors. So for most houses in most places, the first line of defense is to reduce demand, says Bruce Harley, author of Cut Your Energy Bills Now (Taunton). That means tightening up the house and its ductwork (Plug Your Home’s Costly Leaks Before Winter), improving insulation, switching to CFLs, upgrading appliances and changing your behavior. After that, if you still want to go solar, you may be able to make do with a smaller system that costs less. For example, instead of a 4-kilowatt photovoltaic system (the size recommended for the average home) which would cost $16,800 installed after an average state-tax incentive of 25% and the federal discount of 30% -- you might get by with a 2-kilowatt system, which would cost $8,400.
Myth: Energy savings (and tax credits) will eventually pay for replacement windows.
Reality: True, windows are a big energy waster, but you probably have bigger fish to fry. The average cost to replace a window is $300 to $700, and another 50% to 100% if you must replace a rotten or damaged frame, according to http://www.CostHelper.com. Through 2010, you can get a tax credit for 30% of your cost, up to $1,500, for super-efficient windows (many that are currently Energy Star-approved don’t qualify). Many older homes don’t have huge amounts of window area, and newer houses tend to have more energy-efficient windows that meet existing standards for Energy Star labeling. If you still want to upgrade your windows, you may want to wait until products meeting new and more rigorous Energy Star standards reach the market in April 2010. Meanwhile, you can prevent heat from escaping in the winter and invading in the summer if you follow the recommendations above.
I can't comment on most of the myths listed but I will say that my own experience with cfl light bulbs has been that they burn out much faster if switched on and off frequently. I replaced most of my kitchen floodlights with cfl's last year but have now switched back as at least half of them had burned out. I credit that to the high traffic the kitchen receives and the frequency of the lighst being switched on and off. Compare that to my basement where I also have cfl floodlights and they are doing just fine because we don't use that area very often and so when the lights are switched on they stay on for an extended period of time.
So now I will stock up on incandescents for my kitchen (thanks Sam's and Costco for going cfl only) and hope that I can acquire enough to last me for the next 20 years or so.
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