Personal Energy Audit Lab
BIANCA LOEWEN
Teacher: Mrs Heather Alden Lassiter
Date: 02/02/2020
Purpose: The purpose in this lab is to measure and calculate the electricity used in my home and to understand
conservation and use methods and determine ways that my family can conserve energy. We will evaluate fuel
sources such as coal, natural gas and uranium. We will look at the costs of the fuels and their impact on health
and the environment.
RESULTS:
Appliance
Power
Power
Hours per
Energy per day
% of Total
(watts)
(kilowatts)
day in use
(kilowatt
W/42,462
hours)
x 100
watts/1000
(WxT)/1000
Kw x hours
Clothes washer
512
512/1000 = .512
.6
(512x.6)/1000
1.21%
.3072
Clothes dryer
5,000
5000/1000 = 5
.6
3
11.78%
Dishwasher
1,200
1200/1000 = 1.2
1
1.2
2.83%
Hot water heater (1)
5,000
5000/1000 = 5
1
5
11.78%
Air conditioning/Heating
1,300 per room
12 rooms
(count ALL
12x1300= 15,600
4
62.4
36.74%
rooms, even
bathrooms,
15600/1000= 15.6
but not closets)
15,600
Refrigerator
800
800/1000 = .8
24
19.2
1.88%
Blender
300
300/1000 = .3
1
.3
0.71%
Food processor
350
350/1000 = .35
1
.35
0.82%
Microwave
750
750/1000 = .75
1
.75
1.77%
Range/oven
3,500
3500/1000 = 3.5
2
7
8.24%
Toaster
1,200
1200/1000 = 1.2
0
0
2.83%
Computer
75
75 x 4 =300
2
.6
.7%
300
300/1000 = .30
Radio/Stereo
70
70/1000 .07
.5
.035
.17%
LCD Television
200
200 x 4 = 800
2
1.6
1.88%
800
800/1000 = .8
DVD or VCR
50
50/1000 = .05
.5
.025
0.12%
Fan (2)
100
200/1000 = .2
16
3.2
0.47%
200
Vacuum cleaner
650
650/1000 = .65
.5
.325
1.53%
Lightbulbs (62)
Count all
65 x 62 = 4030
10
40.3
9.49%
lightbulbs and
watts
9
.45
0.12%
multiply by
average of 65
4030/1000 =4.03
watts for each
one 4030
Plugged in chargers
5 for each one
5 x 10 = 50 watts
(for cell phones, laptops,
50
50/1000 = .05
Iron
1,000
1000/1000 = 1
0
0
2.36%
Hair dryer
1,200
1200/1000 = 1.2
.2
.24
2.83%
TOTAL
42,462 watts
42.462 kilowatts
76.9 hrs
146.282 kwh
etc.,
even when not in use)
(10)
1. How much electrical energy does your family consume per day, in kwh? How much would
that be for a year, in kwh?
My family consumes 152.9222 kwh per day. We would use 53,392.93 kwh in a year. (146.282 x 365)
2. Convert your family’s yearly energy use to BTUs.
1 kwh = 3,412 BTU. 53,392.93 x 3412 = 182,176,677 BTU’s.
CONVERSION FACTORS
1 kwh (kilowatt hour) = 3,412 BTU
1 BTU = 1055 Joules
1 pound bituminous coal = 12,000 BTU
1 barrel oil = 5,800,000 BTU
1 cubic foot of natural gas = 1,028 BTU
1 gram uranium = 4 x 10^ 7 BTU
3. Complete this table using your answer for question 2:
How much of these energy sources are needed to provide your family’s yearly energy?
Coal
Pounds needed = 15,181.39 lbs
182,176,677 BTUs /12,000 = 15,181.39
Natural Gas
Cubic feet needed 177,214.666 cubic feet
182,176,677 BTUs / 1.028 = 177,214.666
Oil
Uranium
Barrels needed 31.41 barrels (182,176,677/5,800,0000)
4. Grams needed = Grams needed = 4.5544 grams
182176677/ 4 x 10^ 7 = 4.55
4
Complete this Table using your answers from Question 3
How much do your energy sources cost for a year of your family’s electricity?
Coal costs about $25 per ton
Total cost = $189.75
1 ton = 2000lbs.
15,181.39/2000 = 7.59
7.59 x 25= 189.75
5. Oil costs about $90 per barrel
Total cost = $2826.90
31.41 x 90 = 2826.9
6. Natural Gas costs about $5 per 1000 cubic feet
7. Total cost = $886.05
177,214.666/1000 =177.21
177.21 x 5 = 886.05
8. Uranium costs about 2 cents per gram
9. Total cost = about 10 cents
4.5544 x .02 = 0.091088
5 Is the cheapest fuel the best choice? What costs are not included here? How should the "best"
fuel be determined?
The cheapest fuel is not always the best choice. To create usable energy from uranium, it has to be
processed in a nuclear power plant.
Nuclear power plants are very expensive to build and have significant operating costs. There are
also the direct and indirect environmental impacts and costs to consider. Examples: The negative
impact on people’s health, the costs of caring for medical issues and the costs of cleaning up
potential contamination.
The best fuel should factor in the environmental costs as well. These energy sources are non
renewable so it’s hard to pick. They all have faults. We have to weigh the pros and cons and then
make the decision based on what works best.
Analyze your family’s electricity usage:
A. Compare your family’s electricity usage to how energy is used in other homes in the United
States using information in the lesson.
My family is similar in usage in other homes when it comes to energy use. Much of our
energy use is put into heating and air conditioning, hot water, lighting and appliances
related to cooking and cleaning. The percentages may be different but in general our
energy usage is very similar to other homes.
B.
Outline five ways to reduce your family’s electricity usage.
Use air conditioning only as needed and turn the thermostat up a few degrees in summer
and down a few degrees in winter.
Use our cooking devices more efficiently
Wash larger loads of laundry.
Unplug gaming consoles, devices and chargers when they’re not being used or needed
Turn off the heater when no one is home and dress warmer around the house.
C. Discuss the feasibility of your proposals and your family’s acceptance of change.
The proposed changes are not going to create a significant problem. I think everyone will be
receptive to them. It is a good start and if we all become more aware of our energy usage
and how we can make a difference. This will help us in our decision and in making future
changes. With less usage, there will also be cost savings on energy and that is a strong selling
point. My family would be very accepting of these ideas.
In conclusion,
In this lab I learned about what types of energy we use in our household, how much energy we use, and
in which areas we use the most energy. Our energy consumption is similar to other households. This lab
provided awareness and thus it was able to give me some insight on how we can make a difference in
our household energy usage. The lab showed me the advantages and disadvantages of using nonrenewable sources instead of renewable resources.
We can make some minor changes just by being aware of energy usage and easily implement some
changes to reduce our consumption of energy. The lab showed me how to help my family members do
the same.