Maria Hernandez
NCSSM
hernandez@ncssm.edu
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
NCSSM Summer Symposium - Summer 2009
Focus: The Global Energy Crisis
Interdisciplinary symposium for NCSSM online students:
Math, Biology and Humanities
Dr. Everett I. Baucom: “Do We Have an Energy Crisis”
Deputy Director of NSF Science and Technology CERSP, UNC
Research Triangle Energy Consortium – (RTEC)
US Department of Energy, Duke University, UNC – Chapel Hill,
North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University,
University of Florida and Research Triangle Institute.
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
In the average U.S. home, lighting accounts
for about 20% of the electric bill.
Americans can save money and protect the
environment by installing more efficient
lighting. The easiest
way to start saving
energy is to change out
the light bulbs in your
current fixtures.
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
We will explore how replacing
traditional incandescent light
bulbs with compact fluorescent
light (CFL) bulbs can

save energy,
 decrease
CO2 emissions and
 save money.
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
Some questions to consider:
1. Suppose everyone in the US replaced an
incandescent 60 Watt light bulb with a 15
Watt CFL bulb. Assume each bulb is on for
4 hours per day.
a. How much energy would we
save in one year?
Let’s do the math…
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
Environmental Benefits
“ Over half of the electricity in the U.S. is generated by coalfired power plants. The abundance of coal in the U.S.
makes it one of the cheapest energy sources for power
plants. The problem is that in addition to generating
cheap electricity, coal-fired power plants also release
massive amounts of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas
linked to global warming.
By replacing a few
incandescent light bulbs with
energy-efficient compact
fluorescent light bulbs, you have
an important role to play in the
fight against global warming. ”
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
Some questions to consider (continued):
b. How many coal powered
plants is our energy savings
equivalent to? (Assume a 500
Mega Watt coal powered plant)
Let’s do the math…
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
c. How much could we be saving in terms of
CO2 emissions if we adopted this practice?
Assume that a 500Mw plant uses 250 tons of
coal per hour and that coal is 65% carbon.
The atomic weight of carbon is 12 and the
molecular weight of CO2 is 44.
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
d. Since the population of the US is increasing
exponentially, our energy savings would also
increase exponentially if we replaced an
incandescent 60 Watt light bulb with a 15
Watt CFL bulb each time we added a member
to the household. How much energy would
we save 10 years from now in 2020?
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
e. The savings you calculated for the year 2010
and the year 2020 are significant.
◦
How much total energy would we save over the 10-year
time span (count from the beginning of 2010 to the
end of 2020)?
◦
How many coal powered plants is that equivalent to?
◦
How much could we be savings in terms of CO2
emissions?
◦
How much money would we save over the 10-year
period?
SUM OUR SAVINGS
M.Hernandez TCM 2010

CO2 Emissions: Keeling curve – data analysis
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/maunaloa.co2

Using re-expression to
find models for renewable
energy production data
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
CO2 Emissions
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
M.Hernandez TCM 2010

Dr. Everett I. Baucom: Deputy Director of NSF
Science and Technology CERSP, UNC http://www.nsfstc.unc.edu/

National Renewable Energy Lab

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Data Book

Mauna Loa Data Set for Keeling Curve
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/
Basics of Renewable Energy - Videos
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/maunaloa.co2


Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman
Our Choice:
A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis by Al Gore
M.Hernandez TCM 2010

Educators Fellowship Program-Einstein
Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program
http://www.triangle-coalition.org/ein.htm

US DOE ACTS
Academies Creating Teacher Scientists
http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/ACTS/about.htm
M.Hernandez TCM 2010
“The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (the
‘Energy Bill’), signed by the President on December 18, 2007
requires all light bulbs use 30% less energy than today’s
incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The phase-out will start
with 100-watt bulbs in January 2012 and end with 40-watt
bulbs in January 2014. By 2020, a Tier 2 would become
effective which requires all bulbs to be at least 70% more
efficient (effectively equal to today’s CFLs).”
Possible extension: Explore how much energy we
can save by switching to LED lighting.
M.Hernandez TCM 2010