Monday, April 26, 2010

Lights out

As the many cities across the world took part in an hour where lights were shut off globally, it made me wonder why go to the effort for such an insignificant event? I mean, really, this one hour a year out of almost 9,000 is supposed to do what exactly? I would be more impressed if maybe it happened more often, or for a longer amount of time. During the summer solstice, for example, many people could go all day without lights. Even at night, that ONE day year, the northern hemisphere could go one night with candle light. Is it just me? Anybody else think this is a half-assed effort?

11 comments:

  1. I don't think the goal here is to mitigate global warming by not using lights for an hour, or make any drastic changes in our projection.. rather it's a synergistic effort to show an international effort and motivation to MOVE, and start doing something about it.. but you're right, it is a bit halfassed..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Turning off lights is quick and easy and everyone can do it, but unfortunately, lights aren't the big contributor to GHG's. How about everyone takes public transportation, carpools, or rides a bike to work/school for a day? Or how about people don't eat beef for a day?

    It is great to see the international community coming together about this.... I didn't even know this event existed though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This practice actually scares me a little because monsters come out in the dark. Think of all the creatures that are suppressed by the light. I am in support of sustainable monster suppression using wind and solar.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think that events like this increase awareness that we don't need to senselessly use power to light iconic landmarks. I read that Mt. Rushmore won't be lit after 9PM anymore rather than 11PM. It also increases Gov't awareness of their waste, leading to better practices in gov't buildings.

    http://www.myearthhour.org/news/article/03/29/2010/world-unites-wwf%E2%80%99s-earth-hour-2010

    ReplyDelete
  5. In terms of having a real impact on energy consumption, having everybody turn off their lights for an hour really has very little to no true impact. But these movement is all about spreading awareness, which I think we can all agree is a good thing. As mentioned, turning off the lights is such an easy thing to do, yet so many people fail to do it. If this event can get more people to think about turning off the lights, I say that we continue to promote this annual event.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think the Lights Out, is more about awareness and getting businesses and individuals to participate in acknowledging the difference we can make.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This kind of reminds me of having a moment of silence for the death of someone - it is in good spirit but it ultimately does nothing in the end. I feel like many people's reaction to having their lights out for an hour would be to appreciate and use energy a little more onece the lights turn back on.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think the event is more aimed at raising awareness than actually accomplishing anything. I know hearing about it has made me more conscious of turning off lights in parts of the house that no one is in.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Last night all buildings on the hill from about university down to arapaho were blacked out. It was a striking scene because it seemed to me to be the picture of an imaginary world in which businesses like whole foods allowed economic interests to be superseded by ethical imperatives to protect the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The purpose of this event is to raise awareness and i think that it accomplishes that whether or not it actually has an impact on the environment is really not the point its just great that people are aware and that they start to make sacrifices for the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It does raise awareness but I wish people were more effected by it. If it worked people would start to turn lights off when they leave the room. It is amazing and sad how much light people waste. Some people say they just like when there house is lit up at night, but do you really need to have all the lights on in your house to be happy?

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.