Electonic Pianos and Keyboards: Do They Emit CO2 and Contribute to Climate Change?

The electronic piano or keyboard is a beloved instrument that many pianists cannot imagine playing without. But have you ever wondered if playing your favorite electronic keyboard could be contributing to climate change through CO2 emissions? In this article, we will explore the truth behind this question and provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision.

Understanding the Basics: Wattage and CO2 Emissions

Let's start with the wattage of your electronic piano or keyboard. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy equal to 1,000 watt-hours. If your electronic keyboard is using more than 20 watts, it might seem like a significant contribution to your electricity bill, but upon closer inspection, the actual energy consumption is much less. A typical electronic keyboard uses between 12 to 360 watts, with most models falling in the 12 to 60 watt range.

Higher Wattage Does Not Always Mean Higher CO2 Emissions

Electronic keyboards with higher wattage often come with built-in amplifiers. A keyboard that uses 360 watts would consume approximately 0.36 kWh in three hours. On the other hand, a 20-watt keyboard would use about 0.02 kWh in three hours. This means that a 20-watt keyboard would take around 50 hours of operation to use 1 kWh.

Calculating CO2 Emissions

When electricity is produced from fossil fuels, such as coal, it generates CO2. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a kWh produced by coal emits approximately 2 pounds of CO2. However, with the rapid advancement in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, the U.S. average kWh produced in 2019 emitted only about 0.92 pounds of CO2.

Renewable Energy Approaches

Many utility companies now offer renewable energy options. If you are in the U.S., you can opt for 100% wind power, as I do. My utility company charges 5.29 cents per kWh plus a variable delivery charge, making my total cost around 10 cents per kWh. If I switch to a newer, cheaper provider with a lower rate, it can reduce my cost to under 4 cents per kWh.

Do Electronic Keyboards Contribute to Climate Change?

When it comes to electronic pianos and keyboards, the short answer is no. The energy consumption of these devices is minimal, and the CO2 emissions they produce are negligible. It is the generation of electricity that contributes to CO2 emissions. Unless your electricity comes from renewable sources like windmills or solar panels, the true source of the CO2 is the power plant generating the electricity. For an electronic keyboard using 20 watts, the contribution to CO2 emissions is far less than 1 kWh, which is already a very small amount.

The Tiny Impact of CO2 from Electronic Keyboards

The amount of CO2 that humans emit collectively is already incredibly small when compared to the vastness of the entire atmosphere. Even if you were to try to measure the CO2 emissions from a single electronic keyboard, the amount would be so small as to be virtually undetectable in the context of global CO2 levels. Therefore, electronic keyboards do not affect or cause climate change in any significant way.

Conclusion

While it is important to be aware of the energy consumption of all devices in our lives, it is essential to recognize that the impact of electronic pianos and keyboards on climate change is minimal. You can play your electronic keyboard with a clear conscience, knowing that it is an environmentally friendly instrument. And if you are concerned about CO2 emissions, consider switching to a cleaner source of electricity, such as wind power, to further reduce your environmental impact.