Light Audit Research Survey Collection Data
Introduction
Camps from all over the country will be participating in this research study to learn about energy conservation by
conducting an energy audit of lighting systems. This worksheet will guide you through the process of collecting the data
while also providing a learning opportunity for campers and staff.
Instructions
1. Print out this sheet (To save paper, set your printer to duplex)
2. Schedule a time to conduct the audit
3. Invite camp staff and campers to participate in the audit.
Education
The last two pages of this worksheet contains information about light bulbs that can be used to learn more about
lighting options and facilitate discussion with your campers.
The following questions can be used to facilitate conversation about lighting and energy with your campers.
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Where does our energy come from?
What are the different types of light bulbs?
What is one way we can save energy at home?
What are other ways we can save energy?
Light Bulb Data Collection
Using mathematical formulas, we can use the data you collect to calculate how much energy your light bulbs consume,
the cost of operation and the pounds of CO2 that are released into the environment.
On the back of this page you will find a list of data that you will need to collect. Once you have completed the data
collection, you can visit the survey monkey page to submit your data and survey responses.
What you’ll need
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Print out of this sheet
Ladder
Measuring Tape
Safety Precautions
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Turn off light switch
Wear protective gloves
Be careful when climbing ladders
Data Analysis
When you finish gathering the questions on the following page, please visit the survey monkey form to upload your
data. This data will be collected and analyzed by Dr. Erik Rabinowitz at Appalachian State University. This data will
teach us a great deal about current light bulb energy consumption at camps through comparison of results from
different camps based on building use and size, bulb type, time of usage along with other factors.
Upon completion of the research study, you will receive a report of your survey data and a certificate of participation in
this project.
Light Audit Research Project www.greencampsinitiative.org/research
Danny Sudman | (704) 450-1901 | [email protected]
Dr. Erik Rabinowitz | (828) 406-0601 | [email protected]
Camp Details/Demographics
Camp/Organization Name:
Zipcode:
Electricity Rate (.01 = 1 cent per kwh):
Country:
Contain Name:
Annual Number of Campers:
Contain Email for Communication:
Size of Camp in Acreage:
Contact Phone Number:
The Space
Which best describes the audit space? Consider how much light you need in the different areas of camp. To eat in the
dining hall, work in the office, cook a meal in the kitchen, etc.
Eating Space | Living Space | Office Space | Recreation Space | Other:
Building Measurements
Light bulbs use different amounts of energy to illuminate an area. By calculating the size of the audit space, we can
compare how much light energy is being used per square foot. (Please measure in feet)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Light Bulb Data
Choose a primary light bulb and secondary (optional) in the building space you chose and gather the following data.
Primary Lighting Data
Number of Light Bulbs
Fixture Brand
Lamp Bulb Type
Bulb Wattage
Daily Hours of Operation (1-24)
Number of days per year (1-365)
Secondary Lighting Data
Number of Light Bulbs
Fixture Brand
Lamp Bulb Type
Bulb Wattage
Daily Hours of Operation (1-24)
Number of days per year (1-365)
Calculators
The following formulas will be used to analyze data to learn more about light bulb energy consumption, cost to operate
and pounds of CO2 released as a result of producing the energy. We will calculate this as part of the study, but you can
grab a calculator and try too.
Fixture Quantity x Fixture Wattage = Total Watts
Total Watts ÷ 1000 = Kilowatts
Kilowatts x (Hours of Usage) = Kilowatt/Hr
Kilowatt/Hr x (Cost of Energy) = Annual Cost
1.222lbs CO2 ÷ Kilowatt/Hr = Pounds of CO2 per Kilowatt/Hr
CO2 Source https://carbonfund.org/how-we-calculate/
Light Audit Research Project www.greencampsinitiative.org/research
Danny Sudman | (704) 450-1901 | [email protected]
Dr. Erik Rabinowitz | (828) 406-0601 | [email protected]
Green Camps Initiative
[email protected]
www.greencampsinitiative.org
(704) 450 1901
A Brief History of the Light Bulb
LED Rebates
The electric light, one of the everyday conveniences that
most affects our lives, was not “invented” in the traditional sense in 1879 by Thomas Alva Edison, although he
could be said to have created the first commercially practical incandescent light. He was neither the first nor the
only person trying to invent an incandescent light bulb. In
fact, some historians claim there were over 20 inventors
of incandescent lamps prior to Edison’s version. However,
Edison is often credited with the invention because his
version was able to outstrip the earlier versions because
of a combination of three factors: an effective incandescent material, a higher vacuum than others were able to
achieve and a high resistance that made power distribution from a centralized source economically viable.
State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) set energy savings goals. Energy savings are an alternative to the capital expense of expanding
power plant capacity.
Contact your local utility to learn about LED lighting and other rebate opportunities.
Buy Lumens, Not Watts
Lumen - a unit of standard measurement that is
used to describe the amount of light contained
in an area as perceived by the human eye. The
more lumens, the brighter the light. You can use
lumens to compare the brightness of any bulb,
regardless of the technology behind it, and regardless of
whether it's incandescent, CFL or LED.
To help consumers better understand the switch from watts to
lumens, the Federal Trade Commission requires a new product
label for light bulbs. It helps people buy the light bulbs that are
right for them.
Like the helpful nutrition label on food products, the Lighting
Facts label helps
consumers understand what they are
really purchasing.
The label clearly provides the lumens -or brightness -- of
the bulb, the estimated operating
cost for the year,
and the color of the
light (from warm/
yellowish, to white to
cool/blue).
Light Bulb Quiz
Mercury in CFLs
#1 The first spiral compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)
appeared on the market in 1995. But when was the deCFLs contain trace amounts of mercury – only about four sign invented?
milligrams (mg) in each bulb. That’s an infinitesimal
1902
1959
1976
1990
amount compared with old thermometers, which contain #2 Which country was the first to phase out incandescent light bulbs?
about 500 mg of mercury, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because electricity use
Australia
Cuba
Japan
The United States
is the main source of mercury emissions in the United
#3 What is the internationally recognized unit for brightness of a light source (in other words, the light source's
States, the EPA says CFLs actually reduce the total
amount of mercury in the environment because they use perceived power)?
less electricity than traditional bulbs.
Watts
Volts
Lumens
Color temperature
#4 What percentage of energy, used by a 100 Watt incandescent light bulb, is converted to visible light?
Recycling CFLs
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Find recycling and waste centers in your area that
have hazardous waste drop-off locations
through Earth911.
Visit local retailers that have in-store recycling. For
instance, Lowe’s and Home Depot stores both have
CFL recycling programs.
Learn about mail-back services that provide prelabeled recycling kits you can use to send CFLs to
recycling centers.
2.6%
5.8%
12.5%
18.7%
22.4%
#5 A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is an energy
efficient alternative to the regular incandescent light
bulb. How much of the energy, used by a CFL, is converted to light?
3.2%
7.7%
18.4%
23.9%
67.2%
#6 Replacing a single incandescent light bulb with a
compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half a ton.
True
False
Cost Comparison between LEDs, CFLs
and Incandescent light bulbs
LED
CFL
Incandescent
Light Output
LEDs
CFLs
Incandescents
50,000 hours
10,000 hours
1,200 hours
Lumens
Watts
Watts
Watts
450
300 - 900
1100 - 1300
4-5
6-8
9 - 13
8 - 12
13 - 18
18 - 22
40
60
75 - 100
1600 - 1800
2600 - 2800
16 - 20
25 - 28
23 - 30
30 - 55
100
150
14
60
$35.95
$3.95
$1.25
500
700
3000
$50
$70
$300
1
5
42
$35.95
$85.75
$19.75
$89.75
$52.50
$352.50
Notes:
- Cost of electricity will vary. The figures used above are for comparison only, and are not exact.
Residential energy costs among the various states range from 28.53 cents (Hawaii) to 6.34 cents
(Idaho) per KWH.
- The cost per bulb for LEDs may vary. We used the figure of $35.95 (for a 60 watt equivalent LED
bulb) as an average among lighting retailers.
- Estimates of bulb lifespan are projected, since it would take about 6 years of continuous lighting
to test. Some manufacturers claim the new LED bulbs will last up to 25 years under normal
household use, but this is not proven.
- Bulb breakage and bulb replacement costs have not been factored into this comparison chart.
Incandescent bulbs and CFL bulbs are more easily broken than LEDs, which increases their cost
of use.
- Most LEDs come with a minimum 2-year guarantee. Any defective LED bulb will usually fail within
this time.
Sources:
http://eartheasy.com/live_led_bulbs_comparison.html#a
http://lumennow.org/energy-saving-choices/cfls-choosing-the-right-type/
http://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx
http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeff_lighting.htm
http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/lumens-and-lighting-facts-label
http://www.cree.com/Lighting/Tools-and-Support/Rebates
Comparing the features of Incandescent,
CFL and LED bulbs
Frequent On/Off
Cycling
Turns on instantly
Durability
Heat Emitted
Sensitivity to
temperature
Sensitivity to
humidity
Hazardous Materials
Replacement
frequency
(over 50k hours)
LEDs
CFLs
Incandescents
no effect
shortens lifespan
some effect
yes
slight delay
yes
durable
fragile
medium (30
btu's/hr)
fragile
low (3 btu's/hr)
high (85 btu's/hr)
no
yes
some
no
yes
some
none
5 mg mercury/
bulb
none
1
5
40+
Quiz Answers
10
#1 1976 #2 CUBA #3 Lumens
#4 2.6 %
The incandescent light bulb wastes most of its energy as heat, which is why you will burn yourself if you
grab a light bulb that is turned on.
#5 7.7%
Although it may not seem like 7.7% is very energy efficient, it is 3x more efficient than a regular incandescent light bulb.
#6 True
Generating electricity produces greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming. Replacing a light
bulb with a CFL reduces the amount of electricity consumed. This indirectly reduces the amount of
greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere. Over the life of the CFL (which is the same lifespan as at
least 8 regular light bulbs), this accounts for half a ton of greenhouse gases.
Light bulb projected lifespan
Watts per bulb
(equiv. 60 watts)
Cost per bulb
KWh of electricity used over
50,000 hours
Cost of electricity (@ 0.10per
KWh)
Bulbs needed
for 50k hours of
use
Equivalent 50k
hours bulb expense
Total cost for
50k hours
Equivalent wattages and light output of Incandescent, CFL and LED bulbs