Aluminum:
Below is an explanation of the calculations utilized in the Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Impact Calculator and the sources accompanying the impact metrics.
Steel:
Below is an explanation of the calculations utilized in the Steel Food Can Recycling Impact Calculator and the sources accompanying the impact metrics.
Absolute Impact | Economic Impact | Energy Savings | C02e Emissions Avoided
Absolute Impact
MEGAJOULES SAVED
Formula:
[Energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules] / [grams in a kilogram] * [Grams of metal in average beverage can] * [estimated yield of aluminum recycling]
126.5 / 1000 * 13 * 0.94 = 1.6
Explanation:
The energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules comes from the Aluminum Association’s (AA) semi-fabricated life cycle analysis (LCA). AA’s most recent semi-fabricated LCA gives the energy savings because it finds that the difference between the cradle-to-gate footprint of primary aluminum ingot (135.7) and recycled ingot (9.2) is 126.5. For purposes of this calculator, the assumption is no energy is lost in transit so 100% of the energy savings is usable energy. Then divide by 1,000 to get the per kilogram energy saved by aluminum recycling to per gram. That is multiplied by 13 to get the energy saved by using recycled aluminum per can since there is about 13 grams of metal in the average aluminum beverage can. The last step is multiplying by 0.94 since that is the roughly estimated yield of aluminum recycling.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules | Aluminum Association 2021 semi-fabricated LCA (will be published online in September 2021)
- Grams of metal in average beverage can | TBD
- Estimated yield of aluminum recycling | Aluminum Association 2021 aluminum beverage can LCA
KILOWATT-HOURS SAVED
Formula:
[Energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules] / [megajoules in a kilowatt] / [grams in a kilogram] * [Grams of metal in average beverage can] * [estimated yield of aluminum recycling]
126.5 / 3.6 / 1000 * 13 * 0.94 = 0.4
Explanation:
The energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules comes from the Aluminum Association’s (AA) semi-fabricated life cycle analysis (LCA). AA’s most recent semi-fabricated LCA gives the energy savings because it finds that the difference between the cradle-to-gate footprint of primary aluminum ingot (135.7) and recycled ingot (9.2) is 126.5. For purposes of this calculator, assume no energy is lost in transit so 100% of the energy savings is usable energy. Then divide by 3.6 to convert the energy savings to electricity. This is because 3.6 megajoules is equal to 1 kilowatt hour. Then divide by 1,000 to get the per kilogram electricity saved by aluminum recycling to per gram. That is multiplied by 13 to get the electricity saved by using recycled aluminum per can since there is about 13 grams of metal in the average aluminum beverage can. The last step is multiplying by 0.94 since that is the roughly estimated yield of aluminum recycling.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules | Aluminum Association 2021 semi-fabricated LCA (will be published online in September 2021)
- Grams of metal in average beverage can | Can Manufacturers Institute data based on survey of can manufacturers
- Estimated yield of aluminum recycling | Aluminum Association 2021 aluminum beverage can LCA
GRAMS OF CO2e AVOIDED
Formula:
[(Carbon footprint of primary metal, per gram) – (Carbon footprint of recycled aluminum, per gram)] * [Grams of metal in average beverage can] * [estimated yield of aluminum recycling]
[8.52-0.53] * 13 * 0.94 = 97.6
Explanation:
The carbon footprint of primary metal per gram (8.52), and the carbon footprint of recycled aluminum per gram (0.53) come from the Aluminum Association’s (AA) semi-fabricated life cycle analysis (LCA). By subtracting the carbon footprint of the primary metal by the carbon footprint of recycled aluminum gets the emissions avoided by using recycled aluminum, per gram. That is multiplied by 13 to get the emissions avoided by using recycled aluminum per can since there is about 13 grams of metal in the average aluminum beverage can. The last step is multiplying by 0.94 since that is the roughly estimated yield of aluminum recycling.
Sources:
- Carbon footprint of primary metal, per gram and recycled aluminum, per gram | Aluminum Association 2021 semi-fabricated LCA (will be published online in September 2021)
- Grams of metal in average beverage can | Can Manufacturers Institute data based on survey of can manufacturers
- Estimated yield of aluminum recycling | Aluminum Association 2021 aluminum beverage can LCA
Economic Impact
ECONOMIC VALUE WHEN SOLD
[Metric ton value of beverage cans 2019] / [(pound in a metric ton) * (cans per pound)]
[$1,210] / [2204.62 * 33.83] = 0.02
Explanation:
The value per ton of aluminum beverage cans is $1,210. Divide that by the amount of cans in a metric ton to get the value per beverage can recycled. Get the amount of cans in a metric ton by multiplying 2,204.62, the number of pounds in a metric ton, by 33.83, the amount of cans per pound.
Sources:
- The value per ton of aluminum beverage cans recycled | The Aluminum Can Advantage Key Sustainability Performance Indicators 2020 (see page 15)
- The cans per pound | Can Manufacturers Institute data based on survey of can manufacturers.
Energy Savings
HOURS CAN POWER A U.S. HOME
Formula:
[[(Pounds of beverage cans available for recycling) * (estimated yield of aluminum recycling) * (pounds to kilograms) * (per kilogram of aluminum recycling energy savings equal to electricity in kWh) / (U.S. average household electricity consumption in kWh)] * (days in a year) * (hours in a day)] / [(Pounds of beverage cans shipped in one year) * (estimated yield of aluminum recycling) * (Beverage cans per pound)]
[(Homes can power for one year if all aluminum beverage cans available for recycling are recycled) * (days in a year) * (hours in a day)] / [(Pounds of beverage cans available for recycling accounting for yield loss) * (Beverage cans per pound)]
[Homes can power per hour if all beverage cans available for recycling are recycled] / [Total number of beverage cans available for recycling]
[[2,741,000,000 *0.94 * 0.4536 * 35.139 / 11,000] * 365 *24] / [2,741,000,000 *0.94 * 33.83]
[3,733,418 * 365 *24 ] / [2,576,540,000 * 33.83 ]
[32,704,741,680 / [87,164,348,200] = 0.4
Explanation:
There are several components to the calculation to get the homes that can be powered for one year if all aluminum beverage cans are recycled. The pounds of beverage cans available for recycling is multiplied by the pounds to kilograms conversion factor so that the per kilogram of aluminum recycling energy savings equal to electricity can be used to calculate the total electricity savings from all beverage cans shipped assuming they were all recycled. The pounds of beverage cans available for recycling is also multiplied by the estimated yield of aluminum recycling since not all of those pounds will be included in a new product given the tiny losses involved in the recycling process. The per kilogram of aluminum recycling energy savings equal to electricity in kWh is calculated by taking the difference between the cradle-to-gate footprint of primary aluminum ingot (135.7) and recycled ingot (9.2) of 126.5 and dividing it by the conversion factor of kilowatt hours to megajoules of 3.6 megajoules to 1 kilowatt hour. So, 126.5/3.6 is 35.139. Note that this assumes no energy is lost in power generation. The number for the homes that can be powered for one year if all aluminum beverage cans are recycled is calculated by taking the total energy savings that would come from all aluminum beverage cans available for recycling being recycled and dividing it by the energy use of a typical household. The typical energy use for a U.S. household in one year is 11,000 kilowatt hours per year. This ultimately gets to 3,733,418 homes that could be powered with the electricity generated from recycling all aluminum cans that are shipped out.
The homes that can be powered for one year if all aluminum beverage cans available for recycling are recycled was multiplied by 365 and then by 24 to get the number of homes that can be powered for one hour if all aluminum beverage cans available for recycling are recycled.
The second part of the formula multiples the pounds of cans available for recycling in one year by the beverage cans per pound. This gives the total number of beverage cans available for recycling in 2019. This was multiplied by the estimated yield of aluminum recycling since not all of those pounds will be included in a new product given the tiny losses involved in the recycling process.
Then divide the total number of homes that could be powered for one hour if all beverage cans available for recycling are recycled divided by the total number of beverage cans available for recycling to get how many homes for one hour could be powered per beverage can recycled.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of aluminum recycling in megajoules | Aluminum Association 2021 semi-fabricated LCA (will be published online in September 2021)
- Homes can power for one year if all aluminum beverage cans recycled | Aluminum Association
- Pounds of beverage cans available for recycling | Can Manufacturers Institute can shipment data provides the total amount of cans manufactured in the United States and that number is adjusted based on trade balances. The adjustments account for the exports of unfilled cans and the imports of unfilled cans. The numbers for these adjustments come from U.S. Department of Commerce trade data
- U.S. average annual household electricity consumption in kWh | U.S. Energy Information Administration
HOURS CAN POWER A 45″ LED TV
Formula:
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour]
[0.434] / [0.071] = 6.1
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was calculated.
The amount of KWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour to determine how many hours a 40 to 50 inch LED TV could be powered by the energy savings from recycling one beverage can.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
SLICES OF BREAD TOASTED IN A 2-SLICE TOASTER
Formula:
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours needed to power a 2 slice toaster) / 2]
[0.434] / [0.04 / 2] = 21.7
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was calculated.
The amount of KWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to toast each slice of bread in a toaster. The per slice electricity was calculated by taking the kilowatt hours needed to power a two slice toaster and dividing it by two.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a 2 slice toaster | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
HOURS CAN POWER A LAPTOP
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [kilowatt hours needed to power a laptop per hour]
[0.434] / [0.035] = 12.4
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was calculated.
The amount of KWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to power a laptop per hour to determine how many hours a laptop could be powered by the energy savings from recycling one beverage can.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a laptop per hour | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
LOAD OF LAUNDRY
Formula:
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours per warm wash cycle) + (kilowatt hours to run dryer cycle)]
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [kilowatt hours to run both warm washer and dryer for one cycle]
[0.434] / [4 + 2.3]
[0.434] / [6.3] = 0.069
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was calculated.
The amount of KWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to run a warm wash cycle and a dryer to determine how many loads of laundry could be completed per aluminum beverage can recycled.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours to run dryer cycle | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
- Kilowatt hours per warm wash cycle | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
HOURS CAN POWER A REFRIGERATOR
Formula:
[kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours to run a refrigerator per month) / (days in a month) / (hours in a day)]
[0.434] / [150 / 30 / 24]
[0.434] / [0.208] = 2.1
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was calculated.
The amount of KWh saved per aluminum beverage can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator per hour to determine how many hours a refrigerator could be run per aluminum beverage can recycled. The kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator for a day was divided by 30 and then by 24 to get the amount of kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator per hour.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours to run a refrigerator per month | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
CO2e Emissions Avoided
MILES DRIVE BY AN AVERAGE PASSENGER VEHICLE
Number: 0.245
Explanation:
This number was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. The calculator displays the miles driven by an average passenger vehicle per any amount of greenhouse gas that is entered into the calculator. When 0.0976378 kilograms, the kilograms of CO2e avoided per beverage can recycled, was entered into the calculator, it said that equals 0.245 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle
Sources:
NUMBER OF SMARTPHONES CHARGES
Number: 12
Explanation:
This number was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. The calculator displays the number of smartphones charged per any amount of greenhouse gas that is entered into the calculator. When 0.0976378 kilograms, the kilograms of CO2e avoided per beverage can recycled, was entered into the calculator, it said that equals 12 smartphones charged.
Sources:
BACK TO: Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Impact Calculator
For more information on metal can recycling and sustainability, please visit: https://www.cancentral.com/sustainability.
Absolute Impact | Economic Impact | Energy Savings | C02e Emissions Avoided
Absolute Impact
MEGAJOULES SAVED
Formula:
[Energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules] / [grams in a kilogram] * [Grams of metal in average steel food can] * [estimated yield of steel recycling]
17.47 / 1000 * 43.1 * 0.9 = 0.68
Explanation:
The energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules comes from worldsteel’s life cycle inventory methodology report and accompanying study report, based on the energy used to make primary steel and recycled steel, as well as the yield of steel recycling (0.9). For purposes of this calculator, the assumption is no energy is lost in transit so 100% of the energy savings is usable energy. Then divide by 1,000 to get the per kilogram energy saved by steel recycling to per gram. That is multiplied by 43.1 to get the energy saved by recycling steel per can since there is about 43.1 grams of metal in the average steel food can.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules | worldsteel life cycle inventory study (2017)
- Grams of metal in average steel food can | Average weight of the most popular size steel food can (2-piece 15 ounce drawn-and-ironed) from Silgan, the largest steel food can manufacturer in the United States
- Estimated yield of steel recycling | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
KILOWATT-HOURS SAVED
Formula:
[Energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules] / [megajoules in a kilowatt] / [grams in a kilogram] * [Grams of metal in average steel food can] * [estimated yield of steel recycling]
17.47 / 3.6 / 1000 * 43.1 * 0.9 = 0.19
Explanation:
The energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules comes from worldsteel’s life cycle inventory methodology report and accompanying study report, based on the energy used to make primary steel and recycled steel, as well as the yield of steel recycling (0.9). For purposes of this calculator, assume no energy is lost in transit so 100% of the energy savings is usable energy. Then divide by 3.6 to convert the energy savings to electricity. This is because 3.6 megajoules is equal to 1 kilowatt hour. Then divide by 1,000 to get the per kilogram electricity saved by steel recycling to per gram. That is multiplied by 43.1 to get the electricity saved by recycling steel per can since there is about 43.1 grams of metal in the average steel food can. The last step is multiplying by 0.85 since that is the roughly estimated yield of steel recycling.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules | worldsteel life cycle inventory study (2017)
- Grams of metal in average steel food can | Average weight of the most popular size steel food can (2-piece 15 ounce drawn-and-ironed) from Silgan, the largest steel food can manufacturer in the United States
- Estimated yield of steel recycling | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
GRAMS OF CO2e AVOIDED
Formula:
[(Carbon footprint of primary steel, per gram) – (Carbon footprint of recycled steel, per gram)] * [Grams of metal in average steel can] * [estimated yield of steel recycling]
[2.36-0.13] * 43.1 * 0.9 = 48.97
Explanation:
The carbon footprint of primary steel per gram (2.36), and the carbon footprint of recycled steel per gram (0.13) come from the worldsteel life cycle inventory study. By subtracting the carbon footprint of the primary metal by the carbon footprint of recycled steel and multiplying by 0.90 (the estimated yield of steel recycling) gets the emissions avoided by using recycled steel, per gram. That is multiplied by 43.1 to get the emissions avoided by using recycled steel per can since there is about 43.1 grams of metal in the average steel food can.
Sources:
- Carbon footprint of primary steel, per gram | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
- Carbon footprint of recycled steel, per gram | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
- Grams of metal in average steel food can | Average weight of the most popular size steel food can (2-piece 15 ounce drawn-and-ironed) from Silgan, the largest steel food can manufacturer in the United States
- Estimated yield of steel recycling | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
Economic Impact
ECONOMIC VALUE WHEN SOLD
[Short ton value of steel food cans] / [(pound in a short ton) * (cans per pound)]
[$200] / [2000 * 10.52] = 0.01
Explanation:
The value per short ton of steel food cans is $200. Divide that by the number of cans in a short ton to get the value per steel food can recycled. You get the total amount of food cans in a short ton by multiplying 2,000, the number of pounds in a metric ton, by 10.52, the amount of cans per pound. The cans per pound number is derived from taking the number of grams in a pound, 453.592, and dividing it by the weight in grams of the steel food can, 43.1.
Sources:
- The value per ton of steel food cans recycled | Recyclingmarkets.net (the average price per ton of steel food cans in 2018 was $200; this number was used because it’s less than the $250 per ton seen in mid-2021 but also more than the slightly less than $100 per ton seen in 2020)
- The steel cans per pound | Average weight of the most popular size steel food can (2-piece 15 ounce drawn-and-ironed) from Silgan, the largest steel food can manufacturer in the United States
Energy Savings
HOURS CAN POWER A U.S. HOME
Formula:
[[(Pounds of steel food cans available for recycling) * (estimated yield of steel recycling) * (pounds to kilograms) * (per kilogram of steel recycling energy savings equal to electricity in kWh) / (U.S. average household electricity consumption in kWh)] * (days in a year) * (hours in a day)] / [(Pounds of steel food cans shipped in one year) * (estimated yield of steel recycling) * (steel food cans per pound)]
[(Homes can power for one year if all steel food cans available for recycling are recycled) * (days in a year) * (hours in a day)] / [(Pounds of steel food cans available for recycling accounting for yield loss) * (Steel food cans per pound)]
[Homes can power per hour if all steel food cans available for recycling are recycled] / [Total number of steel food cans available for recycling]
[[2,435,836,353 *0.9 * 0.4536 * 4.85 / 11,000] * 365 *24] / [[2,435,836,353 *0.9 * 10.52]]
[438,443 * 365 *24] / [2,192,252,718 * 10.52]
[3,840,760,680] / [23,062,498,591] = 0.17
Explanation:
There are several components to the calculation to get the homes that can be powered for one year if all steel food cans are recycled. The pounds of steel food cans available for recycling is equal to the pounds of steel food cans shipped minus exports of unfilled steel cans plus the imports of unfilled steel cans. That is 2,505,049,580 – 101,985,937 + 32,772,710 = 2,435,836,353. The pounds of steel food cans available for recycling is multiplied by the pounds to kilograms conversion factor so that the per kilogram of steel recycling energy savings equal to electricity can be used to calculate the total electricity savings from all steel food cans shipped assuming they were all recycled. The pounds of steel food cans available for recycling is also multiplied by the estimated yield of steel recycling since not all of those pounds will be included in a new product given the tiny losses involved in the recycling process. The per kilogram of steel recycling energy savings equal to electricity in kilowatt hours is calculated by taking the per kilogram of steel can recycling energy savings equal to electricity in megajoules and dividing it by the conversion factor of kilowatt hours to megajoules of 3.6 megajoules to 1 kilowatt hour. So, 17.47/3.6 is 4.85. Note that this assumes no energy is lost in power generation. The number for the homes that can power for one year if all steel food cans are recycled is calculated by taking the total energy savings that would come from all steel food cans available for recycling being recycled and dividing it by the energy use of a typical household. The typical energy use for a U.S. household in one year is 11,000 kilowatt hours per year. This ultimately gets to 438,443 homes that could be powered for one year with the electricity generated from recycling all steel cans that are shipped out.
The homes that can be powered for one year if all steel food cans available for recycling are recycled was multiplied by 365 and then by 24 to get the number of homes that can be powered for one hour if all steel food cans available for recycling are recycled.
The second part of the formula multiples the pounds of steel food cans available for recycling in one year by the steel food cans per pound. This gives the total number of steel food available for recycling. This was multiplied by the estimated yield of steel recycling since not all of those pounds will be included in a new product given the tiny losses involved in the recycling process.
Then divide the total number of homes that could be powered for one hour if all steel food cans available for recycling are recycled divided by the total number of steel food cans available for recycling to get how many homes for one hour could be powered per steel food can recycled.
Sources:
- Energy savings per kilogram of steel recycling in megajoules | worldsteel life cycle inventory data (2020 data release)
- Pounds of steel food cans available for recycling | Can Manufacturers Institute can shipment data provides the total amount of steel food cans manufactured in the United States (2020 data)
- Exports and imports of unfilled steel cans | U.S. International Trade Commission (2020 data)
- U.S. average annual household electricity consumption in kWh | U.S. Energy Information Administration
HOURS CAN POWER A 45″ LED TV
Formula:
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour]
[0.1885] / [0.071] = 2.65
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per steel food can recycled was calculated.
The amount of kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour to determine how many hours that TV could be powered by the energy savings from recycling one steel food can.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a 40 to 50 inch LED TV per hour | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
SLICES OF BREAD TOASTED IN A 2-SLICE TOASTER
Formula:
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours needed to power a 2 slice toaster) / 2]
[0.1885] / [0.04 / 2] = 9.43
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kWh saved per steel food can recycled was calculated.
The amount of kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to toast each slice of bread in a toaster. The per slice electricity was calculated by taking the kilowatt hours needed to power a two slice toaster and dividing it by two.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a 2 slice toaster | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
HOURS CAN POWER A LAPTOP
Hours can power a laptop
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [kWh needed to power a laptop per hour]
[0.1885] / [0.035] = 5.39
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was calculated.
The amount of kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to power a laptop per hour to determine how many hours a laptop could be powered by the energy savings from recycling one steel food can.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours needed to power a laptop per hour | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
LOAD OF LAUNDRY
Formula:
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours per warm wash cycle) + (kilowatt hours to run dryer cycle)]
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [kilowatt hours to run both warm washer and dryer for one cycle]
[0.1885] / [4 + 2.3]
[0.1885] / [6.3] = 0.03
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was calculated.
The amount of kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to run a warm wash cycle and a dryer to determine how many loads of laundry could be completed per steel food can recycled.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours to run dryer cycle | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
- Kilowatt hours per warm wash cycle | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
HOURS CAN POWER A REFRIGERATOR
Formula:
[kWh saved per steel food can recycled] / [(kilowatt hours to run a refrigerator per month) / (days in a month) / (hours in a day)]
[0.1885] / [150 / 30 / 24]
[0.1885] / [0.208] = 0.90
Explanation:
See above for explanation of how kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was calculated.
The amount of kilowatt hours saved per steel food can recycled was divided by the kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator per hour to determine how many hours a refrigerator could be run per steel food can recycled. The kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator for a day was divided by 30 and then by 24 to get the amount of kilowatt hours needed to run a refrigerator per hour.
Sources:
- Kilowatt hours to run a refrigerator per month | Silicon Valley Power Appliance Energy Use Chart
CO2e Emissions Avoided
MILES DRIVE BY AN AVERAGE PASSENGER VEHICLE
Number: 0.123
Explanation:
This number was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. The calculator displays the miles driven by an average passenger vehicle per any amount of greenhouse gas that is entered into the calculator. When 0.04897 kilograms, the kilograms of CO2e avoided per steel food can recycled, was entered into the calculator, it said that equals 0.123 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle
Sources:
NUMBER OF SMARTPHONES CHARGES
Number: 6
Explanation:
This number was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. The calculator displays the number of smartphones charged per any amount of greenhouse gas that is entered into the calculator. When 0.04897 kilograms, the kilograms of CO2e avoided per steel food can recycled was entered into the calculator, it said that equals 6 smartphones charged.
Sources:
Note: worldsteel LCI data is available on request via worldsteel.org, or in proprietary databases such as GaBi, SimaPro, etc.
BACK TO: Steel Can Recycling Impact Calculator
For more information on metal can recycling and sustainability, please visit: https://www.cancentral.com/sustainability.