The options listed on the site are 60W and 18W CFL.  The difference depends 
completely on the types of bulbs you use, but those are the options listed.

Also, the instructions on the site to multiply the current by 120V to get 
power isn't quite right.  In an AC circuit, volts times amps gives you the 
apparent power in volt-amps.  But the utility bills you for real power in 
watts, you don't pay for reactive power (even though it adds costs to the 
whole system).  You need to take into account the phase change from 
capacitors and inductors, i.e. multiply by the power factor to get real 
power.  This might not make much of a different with the numbers on the site 
which are approximate, but it might matter if you are taking your own 
measurements or reading labels.

For example, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power

--
Rich

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andy Goodell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" 
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:39 AM
Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] handy website for calculating 
yourelectricity costs


> Sounds like fuzzy equations to me. $23 instead of $86 would mean replacing 
> a
> 44 watt bulb with a 13 watt CFL. Depending on the lumen output of the CFL,
> that ratio should be more like 13:60. You might be using less energy than
> that calculated.
> -Andy
>
> On Tue, Aug 5, 2008 at 12:57 AM, Adele Gay Nicholson
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
>
>> This website features a calculator where you can plug in the average
>> cost of electricity in your state, how many hours per day and days per
>> month of use,  for various electric appliances and devices.  Let's you
>> know how much it is costing you per month and per year for that item.
>>
>> For example, that CFL I leave on in the basement costs me $25 per year
>> vs. $86 for an incandescent.  If I had a clock radio, that would cost
>> me $6 per year.
>>
>> Check it out.  Doesn't have everything on it, but you can get a sense
>> of things.
>>
>>
>> http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/howmuch.html
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------
>> Gay Nicholson, Ph.D.
>>
>> 607-533-7312 (home office)
>> 607-279-6618 (cell)
>>
>> 1 Maple Avenue
>> Lansing, NY 14882
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> Sustainable Tompkins
>> Program Coordinator
>> www.sustainabletompkins.org
>>
>> Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
>> Regional Coordinator
>> Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
>> 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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