Energy Audit

Note: You should get your plans for the energy audit you wish to conduct approved by me before you go ahead and start making measurements.

Use the Watt meter that we have and do an energy audit of some stuff in your home or on campus. Figure out how much energy different things use. Express your answers in Joules and kilowatt-hours and dollars.

Here are some ideas for things to investigate.

• Toasters: See how much energy the toaster in the dining hall uses. Compare and contrast traditional toasters with toaster ovens.

• Photocopy Machines: Figure out how much energy the photocopy machine uses. How much more energy does it use when photocopying? How much energy does it use when warming up? Does it make sense to turn the machines off at night?

• Light bulbs: Figure out how much energy different light bulbs use. Using a Lux meter (a device that measures brightness) determine the efficiency of different bulbs.

• Computers: Does your computer use more energy when it's "thinking" or when it's not doing anything? How much energy does it take to print a page of text?

• Vending Machines: How much energy does the soda machine outside the computer lab use?

Other stuff to ponder

• Find some references that discuss under what circumstances it's best to leave lights or computers on instead of turning them off. Summarize what you find.

Web page maintained by dave@hornacek.coa.edu.