Earth Hour

[Siniri]

Did anyone else participate in Earth Hour this year? I didn't find out about it until yesterday, but my roommate and I decided to do it. I went for a walk during the hour (without lights or computer, I couldn't really study or play Neopets, and to me, candles sort of defeat the purpose because the flame creates carbon emissions), but it didn't seem like a lot of people in Atlanta were participating (and no businesses that I passed were). I hope it's a little better organized and advertised next year. It'd be fun to get my whole apartment complex to do it -- people might actually interact with their neighbors and get to know them.

[Pickles]

I didn't participate, but Google did. They put their site to all black, and had this written on the main Google page:

We've turned the lights out. Now it's your turn - Earth Hour.

It's still like that right now, at least.

[Lee]

My city wasn't really participating. But I know my relatives in San Fransisco did.

[Shoyru_Lover]

Yep i did. It was fun. Candles are... awesome.

[Helena]

Done it. Yes, candles are awesome. Me and one flat on the block opposite me turned out our lights at the same time... 'twas weird.

[KMB1933]

Nah, HK did not participate. It is evening here and I can see lights on HK Island as usual. But HK also ran its own "switch off lights" campaign a year ago where we were required to switch off lights for 5 minutes. Anyways, it is nearly summer. Without electricity, I can't turn on the AC. If I can't turn on the AC, I will become very hot because temperatures during summer always rise up to 30 degrees C. So, I don't think this is the appropriate time for this "Earth Hour" thing.

[Alex]

Kinda. I live on campus at a uni and it was really disorganised - it's because the girl who did it last year was too busy so she couldn't really do it this year.

I love when all the Americans ask me if I've heard of Earth Hour, and I turn around and just go "We started it..."

[Asthaloth]

0.0104166% of the world turn off their lights for a single day.
I fail to see how this actually helps anyone?

[Siniri]

0.0104166% of the world turn off their lights for a single day.
I fail to see how this actually helps anyone?

Well, it doesn't help that much, but they said in Australia alone, it was the equivalent of shutting down two major power plants for that hour (it's not the whole day). It's more about increasing awareness about your energy use -- hopefully, you'll be more cognizant going forward and reduce your overall energy consumption. If businesses see a big cost savings, maybe they'll shut those lights off all the time. It's only the second year; as more people participate, it'll have a bigger impact.

The question, of course, is whether it'll really translate into the rest of the year. Perhaps. Maybe some families will choose to do it more often. Maybe some people will become aware for the first time of CFLs and other energy-saving things to do/use. Maybe the cost savings will convince those who can't be convinced by the environmental arguments. Even if not, at least for that one hour, significantly less energy was being used by some of the largest energy-consumers.

[Asthaloth]

"I'll turn off my tv for an hour so I can feel superior to everyone else, but I won't do jack for the rest of the year" is all I'm hearing really?


Sure, there will be people who are genuinely trying, but to be honest, if you were REALLY trying, you'd have never heard about it in the first place.

[Mongrel]

Sure, there will be people who are genuinely trying, but to be honest, if you were REALLY trying, you'd have never heard about it in the first place.

You mean, like the Amish or something?

I place this kind of thing in the "awareness" category. Lots of people are willing to make minor changes(like turning off heating or AC when no one's home), and those minor things can add up.

[Siniri]

"I'll turn off my tv for an hour so I can feel superior to everyone else, but I won't do jack for the rest of the year" is all I'm hearing really?

Actually, that's quite the opposite of what I said -- the goal is to inspire people to keep it up the rest of the year (the website actually had energy-saving hints for businesses, schools, and homes, but I guess you were too busy knocking it to actually read it). And I personally do a lot already -- I deliberately live close to my school so I can walk or take the bus. My roommate and I recycle everything we possibly can (and reduce/reuse as much as possible, too). We keep the thermostat at 87 degrees Fahrenheit (that's 31C) in the summer -- any higher, and we'd have mold problems. We use CFLs and are conscientious about turning out the lights/turning off the telly/etc. Heck, we don't even have cable, so we hardly ever turn on the TV. The reason I participated wasn't to "feel superior" -- it was to raise awareness for all the people in my city who DON'T already do those things -- which is the vast majority. There's a reason Atlanta's now got the longest (time-wise) commute in the U.S. But I don't go around trying to convert people by being obnoxious; instead, I try to be an example of how easy it is to be less environmentally toxic -- I've actually gotten two friends to give up their cars in their daily commute and take public transit instead.

I acknowledged that some participants might be doing it to feel superior. But so what? If even 10% actually become inspired to try to conserve more on a daily basis, isn't that better than what was there before? And at least those who did do it just to "feel superior" reduced their energy consumption, even if just for that one hour. But don't assume everyone who participated did it to feel superior. The reason I haven't implemented any of their hints is because I already am implementing all the ones I can right now.

Sure, there will be people who are genuinely trying, but to be honest, if you were REALLY trying, you'd have never heard about it in the first place.

Well, I heard about it from my professor, who taught in a completely dark classroom without using powerpoint. But you obviously know me better than I know myself, so tell me what else I am and am not doing, please. (I reserve the right to be obnoxious to those who were obnoxious first ).

[Tymaporer]

I took a shower at 7:45, and when I came out, all the lights were off. I had seen Earth Hour on Google earlier, but forgot until dad told me why he was "hiding". The computers were still on, thankfully (most of us in my family depend on them for a lot of stuff, but myself even more so because my entire social life is online.)

[MarchingDuck]

St. Louis was as useless as it always is when it comes to conservation. Not only did it not participate, but its looking to open a new iron smelting plant that uses water (and they're not sure yet of how to dispose of the water).

But it was amusing to see google participate.

[Rachel]

Nah, HK did not participate. It is evening here and I can see lights on HK Island as usual. But HK also ran its own "switch off lights" campaign a year ago where we were required to switch off lights for 5 minutes. Anyways, it is nearly summer. Without electricity, I can't turn on the AC. If I can't turn on the AC, I will become very hot because temperatures during summer always rise up to 30 degrees C. So, I don't think this is the appropriate time for this "Earth Hour" thing.

Not having a/c at 30 degrees C is nothing - try living through 40 degree days where it only gets down to a MINIMUM of 27 without a/c! Then you'll be happy to turn it off for an hour!