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RE: E-M:/ Individual Energy Activism, Restaurants
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Enviro-Mich message from "Gayle Miller" <gayle.miller@sierraclub.org>
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Frank,
This is a very cool idea. CFLs definitely reduce the carbon footprint of
lighting just by being so much more efficient. I'd guess for most restaurant
or business owners, the big issue for them is cost, not the carbon or coal
savings. And you can't argue with the cost figures!
Happy New Year!
Gayle Miller
Legislative Director
Sierra Club
109 E. Grand River Ave.
Lansing, MI 48906
ph - (517) 484-2372, ext. 13
fax - (517) 484-3108
gayle.miller@sierraclub.org
Sign up to receive legislative alerts at:
http://mackinac.sierraclubaction.org/
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
[mailto:owner-enviro-mich@great-lakes.net] On Behalf Of Alexander J. Sagady
Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2008 10:50 PM
To: FRANKZAS@aol.com; enviro-mich@great-lakes.net
Subject: Re: E-M:/ Individual Energy Activism, Restaurants
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Enviro-Mich message from "Alexander J. Sagady" <ajs@sagady.com>
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At 09:34 PM 12/28/2008, you wrote:
>Besides saving over $1,000 a year in electric bills, CFLs are good for the
environment. Polls have shown that most people in Michigan (including your
customers) believe global warming is a very serious threat to mankind and
something urgent has to be done. Using CFLs will show that your restaurant
is environmentally responsible. Using the calculator above, 20 CFLs will
save over 5,900 pounds of coal at an electric plant and 22, 600 pounds of
carbon dioxide.
I generally don't trust these kinds of online calculators.
Does not burning 5900 lbs of coal yield an emission reduction of
22,600 lbs of carbon monoxide? No.
Lets do the back of the envelope calc.
the combustion reaction is C + O2 yields CO2
Carbon has a molecular weight of 12 and carbon dioxide
has a molecular weight of 44
One mole of carbon burned yields one mole of carbon dioxide. Thus,
burning 12 lbs of carbon yields 44 lbs of carbon dioxide.
If the 5900 lbs of coal were 100% carbon (it is not), the most CO2
emission reduction could be is 44 * 5900/12 = 21,600 lbs of CO2.
Carbon content of coal ranges from 60-80%, depending on the mine source,
so lets roll this back by at least 20%, so the final carbon monoxide
emission
reduction from not burning 5900 lbs of coal is more like 17,000 lbs of
CO2, and probably less in Michigan given the amount of western low sulfur
coal
we are presently burning with its lower carbon content compared to eastern
and southern coal (but also with a lower BTU value).
Here is a site that explores the issue in more detail.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/quarterly/co2_article/co2.html
Finally, someone needs to go and audit the facilities in China making these
CFL bulbs for their mercury management techniques and health and safety
protections.
==========================================
Alex J. Sagady & Associates http://www.sagady.com
Environmental Enforcement, Permit/Technical Review, Public Policy,
Expert Witness Review and Litigation Investigation on Air, Water and
Waste/Community Environmental and Resource Protection
Prospectus at: http://www.sagady.com/sagady.pdf
657 Spartan Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-6971; (517) 332-8987 (fax); ajs@sagady.com
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=============================================================ENVIRO-MICH: Internet List and Forum for Michigan Environmental
and Conservation Issues and Michigan-based Citizen Action. Archives at
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Postings to: enviro-mich@great-lakes.net For info, send email to
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All views and opinions presented above are solely those of the author or
attributed source and do not necessarily reflect those of GLIN or the Great Lakes Commission.
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