Earlier today I came across this interesting article that equates driving a Toyota Prius and using flourescent light bulbs. From the article,
We can estimate the annual greenhouse gas savings from a Prius vs a Toyota Matrix, FWD, automatic. The Prius gets an EPA-rated 55 mpg, vs 31 mpg for the Matrix. Assuming 12,000 miles annually, it will save 169 gallons of gasoline per year. Since each gallon produces 11.1 kg of CO2-equivalent GHG emissions, the Prius saves 1,875 kg of CO2-equivalent annually.
I would guess each bulb can save you about 85W (100W-15W), so 15 will save you 1275W. If the lights are on 2400 h/yr (6.6h/day), they will save 3,060 kWh. Using a national average of 1.35 pounds of CO2 per kWh, this will save 4131 lb or 1,875 kg of CO2. So it doesn't seem like an unreasonable statement that the two are comparable.
I am still not convinced that Hybrids are viable products. The production of a Hybrid vehicle requires the same, if not more, energy to produce and we all know (I hope we all know) that the production of any automobile is a very environmentally harmful process requiring already limited resources and energy.
I still contend that car pooling, mass transit, or riding a bicycle is better than purchasing a Hybrid, however for those of us who have to commute by automobile, a hybrid is one way to curb our dependence on foreign fuel and to curb our release of CO2 into the atmosphere.
1 comment:
You make a point that I never though of before. All these people are going out of their way to purchase new hybrids when their old cars work fine. If they really wanted to save the environment they should find alternative carpoolish options.
Going out to buy a new car when you don't need to- even though it is a hybrid- may not be worth the energy it takes to make the vehicle.
wow- I never thought of that.
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