This is a measure of how efficient a specific fuel can be converted to use to power lights and appliances, expressed as a proportion of a unit of the given fuel.
Used to calculate:fossil fuels consumed and biomass fuels consumed
Varies by: fuel
| Used | fuel | Reference | Location: Ecosystem (study period) |
Value | Units | Notes |
|---|
| * | Biodiesel | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Coal | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Diesel / light fuel oil | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Electricity | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 100 | % (0 - 100) | We assume that energy consumption rates for lighting and appliances assume electricity as the energy source. |
| Electricity | Matulka & Wood 2013 History of the Light Bulb | USA: Built ecosystems () | 12.455 | % (0 - 100) | "A bulb that is 100 percent efficient at converting energy into light would have an efficacy of 683 lm/W. To put this in context, a 60- to 100-watt incandescent bulb has an efficacy of 15 lm/W, an equivalent CFL has an efficacy of 73 lm/W, and current LED-based replacement bulbs on the market range from 70-120 lm/W with an average efficacy of 85 lm/W." Thus a light-emitting diode (LED) light is approximately 85/683 = 12.455% energy efficient | |
| Electricity | Matulka & Wood 2013 History of the Light Bulb | USA: Built ecosystems () | 10.688 | % (0 - 100) | "A bulb that is 100 percent efficient at converting energy into light would have an efficacy of 683 lm/W. To put this in context, a 60- to 100-watt incandescent bulb has an efficacy of 15 lm/W, an equivalent CFL has an efficacy of 73 lm/W,..." which implies compact fluorescent light are 10.688% energy efficient | |
| Electricity | Matulka & Wood 2013 History of the Light Bulb | USA: Built ecosystems () | 2.196 | % (0 - 100) | "A bulb that is 100 percent efficient at converting energy into light would have an efficacy of 683 lm/W. To put this in context, a 60- to 100-watt incandescent bulb has an efficacy of 15 lm/W..." which implies an energy efficiency of 15 / 683 = 2.196% for incandescent light bulbs. | |
| * | Ethanol | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Gas-electric hybrid | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Gasoline | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Geothermal | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | % (0 - 100) | |
| * | Hydroelectric | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Hydrogen | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Jet fuel | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Kerosene | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Municipal solid waste | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Muscle | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Natural gas | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Natural gas compressed (CNG) | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Natural gas liquefied (LNG) | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Nuclear material | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Propane / LPG | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Residual fuel oil | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Solar | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | % (0 - 100) | |
| * | Steam | Assumed | New York City: Urban Area () | 0 | % (0 - 100) | We assume steam is not used for powering lighting and appliances directly. |
| * | Wind | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |
| * | Wood and other biomass | U.S. Department of Energy 2012 - 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book | US: Buildings (2010) | 0 | % (0 - 100) | This reference shows that only electricity is used for lighting, refrigeration, electronics, and computers so efficiency of this fuel type for lighting and appliances is not applicable. |