rabble's Earth (H)ours: what will you do for tomorrow

Sat, 2008-03-29 17:22

Digiteyes

I went for a walk along Queen Street east in Toronto, and saw five restaurants that had either severely reduced their dining room lighting or eliminated electrical lighting all together, and were using candles.

We have become so used to being over-illuminated (and over-heated). Maybe we can learn something from this and reduce the amount of electricity we use -- not just at home, but at work? I very seldom turn on any lights in my office. Only in the winter time if I've got a meeting with someone else in my space.

Sat, 2008-03-29 17:22

#53

remind

yep, as far as I am concerned anyway.

Sat, 2008-03-29 17:26

#54

Cueball

quote:

Originally posted by remind:
[b]yep, as far as I am concerned anyway.[/b]

Well I guess that is good. We will see who is chosen to "volunteer" in the near future, I guess.

Sat, 2008-03-29 17:40

#55

remind

Albertans, they are already used to brown outs. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]

And they could never do it in BC, there would be open revolts. Just as there will be if they try to again sell off BC Hydro.

Sat, 2008-03-29 19:30

#56

Bubbles

It is rather discouraging to see that, according to the news, Toronto only managed a 5 percent power reduction during Earth Hour as to the previous hour. That does not give much hope in curbing climate change.

Sat, 2008-03-29 19:39

#57

jas

I like the idea of a mass unplugging for a period of time, for the peace and quiet and reminder of what life was like before electricity, but apart from that, I agree with others that it is a meaningless and rather shallow, not to mention futile gesture at altering your ecological "footprint". In fact, Earth Hour seems designed for all the people who use that term.

Sat, 2008-03-29 19:45

#58

Boom Boom

quote:

Originally posted by Bubbles:
[b]It is rather discouraging to see that, according to the news, Toronto only managed a 5 percent power reduction during Earth Hour as to the previous hour. That does not give much hope in curbing climate change.[/b]

I don't believe cutting hydro usage was the point - I think the point was to create awareness of the issue. I doubt anyone organising "Earth Hour" really expected hydro usage to be dramatically lowered in the space of one friggin' hour.

Sat, 2008-03-29 20:01

#59

Bubbles

But if only 5 percent of people are willing to forgo one hour of electricity then what does that say about our chanches of reducing electricity consumption by 30 to 50 percent over the next 4-5 years so that we can shut down those coal and upcoming nuclear plants.

Sat, 2008-03-29 20:06

#60

Boom Boom

It's winter, dude. Try again in the summer. Power to the people! [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Sat, 2008-03-29 20:27

#61

Bubbles

But it plays right in the hands of those that want to build nuclear power plants, develope more of the tar sands, coal plants that sequester CO2 in oil fields so that more oil can be extracted.

It certainly did not make me feel good.

Sun, 2008-03-30 02:41

#62

Michelle

First of all, I'm amused to see posts here during Earth Hour. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img] You bad kids. Okay, there's your scolding. It was light because I think Earth Hour is nothing but hype. But...I did it anyhow. We spent the hour singing songs in the dark while I played the guitar, because I couldn't find any matches for the candles.

quote:

Originally posted by Bubbles:
[b]But if only 5 percent of people are willing to forgo one hour of electricity then what does that say about our chanches of reducing electricity consumption by 30 to 50 percent over the next 4-5 years so that we can shut down those coal and upcoming nuclear plants.[/b]

Just because there was only a 5 percent reduction in hydro doesn't mean that only 5 percent of people participated in earth hour. Maybe 50 percent of people curbed their power consumption by 10 percent. Or 25 percent of people curbed their consumption by 20 percent. Or whatever.

Participating didn't mean turning off everything in your house that uses power. For instance, my fridge was still running, and I didn't unplug stuff like my alarm clocks, my modem, etc. We just made sure the lights, the TV, and the computer were turned off.

Anyhow, I just did it to raise awareness with my son. He was grumpy about it because it was near bedtime and he had a really active day yesterday, and as I predicted, he turned the TV on at the nick of 9 p.m. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img]

Sun, 2008-03-30 03:57

#63

nussy

Last night I went outside on my patio on top of a building in the northern part of Toronto...

I watched for lights going out.....did not see any being turned off. I saw the 3 schools nearby with the lights shining brightly on the parking lots although no one is there weekends.....

I saw all the way down to the CN tower....could not see it so I presume the lights were off...but I saw all the lite up office buildings I normally see.

Sun, 2008-03-30 04:10

#64

Maysie

quote:

We spent the hour singing songs in the dark while I played the guitar, because I couldn't find any matches for the candles.

Playing guitar in the dark? Way cool. When I play the 3 chords I know, I need light to see the frets. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Sweetie and I got some candles, settled on the couch and talked, looking out at out non-participating neighbours occasionally. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

I was worried about the grid, concerned that everyone would turn everything on at 9pm (and I see that worry was unwarranted) so we didn't turn any lights on until closer to 9:20.

Like Michelle we didn't turn anything off that would have caused a minor (clock radio) to major (fridge) inconvenience. Yes, I get the hypocrisy. [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]

While I appreciate the cynical perspectives of the babblers who have expressed them, it's not either-or. People who live in countries where we consume a lot have to [i]get[/i] this on a personal level, and large consumers of energy (ie corporations) need to be [i]encouraged[/i] to do the right thing. Once it becomes the "cool" thing to do, once it's an annual thing (we can certainly see that coming) they will outdo each other in Earth Hour products, "must-buys for Earth Hour", etc. C'mon, it's just the first year for North America, and the world I think. Sydney Australia, where it began, has been doing it for a few years, yes? It takes at least a few tries before the capitalists get their fangs into it. (Hey, now that's cynical) [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]

I don't think it was a meaningless personal gesture, but maybe because I do other activist things I feel like it's a good beginning, every little bit helps.

Sun, 2008-03-30 06:59

#65

remind

Well, here during the winter we regularily go for hours without hydro. And I was not willing to participate in this, as I am a regular conserver of hydro and constantly am switching off lights and unpluggging instant on things.

However, my hydro guzzzling partner, who continually leaves a trail of lights on behind him, though it is not as bad as it used to be, wanted to participate. So we did, for 45 minutes anyway.

About 8:30, the cats decided it was way cool to have the lights out that early and decided to start being bad cats. And seriously, they were getting into to things they never would have had it been just during the night when we are asleep, and the lights would be off. It was unexplainable behaviour as to why they would start being bad, but after 15 mins of it, we had to turn lights on to find them and throw them outside.

Sun, 2008-03-30 09:30

#66

Polly B

quote:

Originally posted by Michelle:
[b] He was grumpy about it because it was near bedtime and he had a really active day yesterday, and as I predicted, he turned the TV on at the nick of 9 p.m. [img]biggrin.gif" border="0[/img] [/b]

Ha! My youngest is a Flames fan and the battle of Alberta started exactly at 8pm...he was a bit grumpy too. The tv went back on at exactly 8:59:59 in our house. (Then the Flames lost)

Sun, 2008-03-30 10:25

#67

Boom Boom

I've been impressed with Quebec Hydro this winter, and their response time has been quite good, considering our isolation. We're not having as many outages in winter as we used to have.

Sun, 2008-03-30 10:43

#68

remind

Have had several outages this year, lots and lots of black ice, which has been one cause, as vehicles, mainly semis, go off the road and take out transmission lines. Or wind storms taking down the dead pine trees that are going over lines.

We often have more outages in the summer, though, having said that, as it is transformers that blow when hit by lightening and there is usually about 2600 strikes in the valley during a lightening a electrical storm.

Sun, 2008-03-30 11:13

#69

Boom Boom

When we have hydro problems, the Hydro Quebec crews arrive on skidoos - big, powerful Bombardier Skandics. Sometimes they arrive by helicopter, I've seen the helicopter land on the small parking lot of our B&B.

Sun, 2008-03-30 18:55

#70

Bubbles

quote:

Just because there was only a 5 percent reduction in hydro doesn't mean that only 5 percent of people participated in earth hour. Maybe 50 percent of people curbed their power consumption by 10 percent. Or 25 percent of people curbed their consumption by 20 percent. Or whatever.
Participating didn't mean turning off everything in your house that uses power. For instance, my fridge was still running, and I didn't unplug stuff like my alarm clocks, my modem, etc. We just made sure the lights, the TV, and the computer were turned off.

Michelle, Just imagine you are a politician, would you be willing to cut out those coal and nuclear plants in four or five years, when people for this once a year one hour special occation were only prepared to reduce their electricity use by five percent ? This was a bit like a poll asking what people prefer, a healthy environment or their accustomed life style. The result is obvious.

I had three teenage boys here yesterday, they loved playing hide and seek in the dark, to the point that I left the power off longer then needed. Here on the farm it is easier to throw the main breaker and pretend it was a power outage, which we are accustomed to. It means no running water after the pressure tank empties, but with a backup supply of water and a cystern that is not much of an inconvenience.

Sun, 2008-03-30 19:09

#71

Boom Boom

I wish there was a way to discern the status of those who went along and turned their lights off. I wonder if the very rich bothered to do so? I imagine living conditions amongst the very poor are such that turning their lights off might mean more misery. I'm just guessing, based on my own experiences of having lived for a little while in every socioeconomic class.

ETA: I've felt the 'entitlement' of the upper crust. Perhaps if the butler or the maid turned off [i]their[/i] lights for an hour we would have filled our obligations, eh wot? [img]tongue.gif" border="0[/img]

[ 30 March 2008: Message edited by: Boom Boom ]

Mon, 2008-03-31 06:20

#72

Bubbles

[url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.h... Bay versus Calgary , [/url]

Boom Boom, here you might find your answer. The urban remote controled rich versus the hands on community of the Gitga'ats in Hartly Bay.

quote:

While in Victoria some diners ate by candlelight or turned off the television, for an unimpressive reduction in power consumption of 2.6 per cent, Hartley Bay managed 100 per cent.

quote:

One of the few cities to increase consumption was Calgary where, despite major businesses and institutions turning off the lights, consumption went from 1,050 megawatts at 7.45 p.m. to 1,060 a half-hour later.

Mon, 2008-03-31 06:46

#73

Boom Boom

Thanks, Bubbles. I was looking for Earth Hour observances by socioeconomic class within cities and towns - still nothing reported.

Mon, 2008-03-31 06:48

#74

Noise

I think Edmonton might see a spike as well, though the article you link says edmonton is uncalculated at this time... People across alberta turned on their tv's during earth hour, negating any effect a bulb may have had:

quote:

"(Calgarians) knew it was happening," he said. "Whether they actually watched the hockey game in the dark, I don't know."
The season's last Battle of Alberta, with both the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames vying for a playoff spot, started at 8 p.m.

Not quite sure hw you could call the suburban sprawl of calgary the 'urban rich', well... Unless you've never been to the northeast ^^

I'm not sure if the stats Boom Boom wants will be calculated and made available, although it would be interesting to see

[ 31 March 2008: Message edited by: Noise ]

Mon, 2008-03-31 08:24

#75

HeywoodFloyd

quote:

Originally posted by Bubbles:
[b]
One of the few cities to increase consumption was Calgary where, despite major businesses and institutions turning off the lights, consumption went from 1,050 megawatts at 7.45 p.m. to 1,060 a half-hour later.
[/b]

HAH! We kick ass.

Mon, 2008-03-31 12:21

#76

Fleabitn

My observation within my neighbourhood revealed most people participating. However, somewhat predictably, it was the people who have amply demonstrated their "don't know, don't want to know, don't care" attitude--the same people who I have seen dump solvent in sewers, coat their lawns with chemical pesticides and hose down their driveways for more than an hour--these were the houses that burned bright.
Similarly, the usual brightest thing in the night-time landscape, a parking lot that sits empty all night but is lit up like a stadium on game day, polluted as usual on Saturday night, Sunday night, everynight.

Mon, 2008-03-31 15:23

#77

1234567

We had a party planned that night and it started at 7 pm so we hunted down all the candles and had them all over the house. At 8 we turned off everything and one of my friends started singing some old George Jones song "he stopped lovin' her today" and we sang along. We kept it up and it was about 9:45 when we realized that we had gone way over. It was fun. We talked for a while about the days when there was no power and people had to have a talent to entertain others, some sang, some played guitars. We were much more social before all these convieniences!

Mon, 2008-03-31 17:21

#78

Bubbles

quote:

Not quite sure hw you could call the suburban sprawl of calgary the 'urban rich', well... Unless you've never been to the northeast ^^

Noise, sorry about that, just a lousy comment on my part. Had nothing to do with the discussion.

quote:

HAH! We kick ass.

Jeeze, HeywoodFloyd, there is hope for you yet. The recognition that you are a pain in the butt is half the battle towards being progressive.

May I quietly suggest that you and some of your Calgary buddies make a trip to the Gitga'ats in Hartley Bay, and see if you can give them a hand in financing that little hydro power project. It is only a couple of million. It would be good PR for Calgary. And it is a nice trip. Great fishing and sailing in that area.

Tue, 2008-04-01 05:55

#79

Webgear

[img]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/webgear/eathdaycartoon.jpg[/img]

[ 01 April 2008: Message edited by: Webgear ]

Tue, 2008-04-01 06:21

#80

ElizaQ

Webgear, that's a great cartoon. Hit's many nails on their heads.

Tue, 2008-04-01 08:38

#81

Noise

Thats a fantastic cartoon.

I'd like to see an earth day where nobody but public transit and emergency services are allowed to use the roads ^^

quote:

May I quietly suggest that you and some of your Calgary buddies make a trip to the Gitga'ats in Hartley Bay

Most of us use the BC interior already... Hartley bay looks a bit too far, no? Though the satelite pics of the area look amazing.

quote:

see if you can give them a hand in financing that little hydro power project. It is only a couple of million. It would be good PR for Calgary.

Replace 'calgary' with Alberta... It's Alberta oil money after all, Calgary just happens to be where most of it gets spent.

rabble's Earth (H)ours: what will you do for tomorrow

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