[Greenbuilding] A watt saved.....

[Reuben Deumling]

On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM, Lawrence Lile <LLile at projsolco.com> wrote:

> ...
> Let's say you are considering two appliances that accomplish the same job,
> one of which uses 1000 watt-hours per day and the other that uses 500
> watt-hours per day.  It will take you =  $500 worth of extra solar cells to
> run the less efficient appliance.  Is the more efficient appliance less than
> $500 more than the cheap one?  Then it is a good buy.  This is how you
> justify a  $1000 refrigerator on a PV system.


The problem with this calculation is that the appliance that uses the least
energy may also be the cheapest/cheaper. Cheap (in terms of purchase price)
does not ipso facto mean uses more energy or is less energy efficient. Not
that the appliance manufacturers' marketing departments wouldn't like you to
think otherwise, but 'tain't usually so.

Reuben Deumling