Earth Hour

[JoB]

i ran across the discussion on earth hour on the Home Page and thought it might be an interesting topic here.

I have taken the liberty of copying Jill’s comment from that thread.. because i thought she said it so well…

“I don’t normally, ok never, post comments on blogs, but I feel this is important. I actually wrote a letter to the Mayor’s office, Gov. Gregoire’s office, and my own mayor of Bainbridge Island, urging them to participate in this event.

I am very pleased to see both the City of Seattle, as well as Bainbridge Island committed to participating.

I do not wish to get into a debate as to what people believe is important. I do however, encourage anyone interested to visit http://www.earthhour.org to learn more about this event.

And, while perhaps this is a small gesture that will not solve the overall Climate Change crisis, it IS something…and I truly believe, every little bit helps.

This was started last year in Sydney, Australia where “2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour.

This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year” (www.earthhour.org)

Just my two cents.

Comment by Jill — March 28, 08 12:59 pm “

Thanks Jill… that was a fairly substantial two cents…

other posters thought it was a futile gesture…

and some thought it more important to change habits than make gestures…

i think it is important to change habits..

and to join in making a visible gesture.

what do you think?

[Anonymous]

Say when, JoB, and I would participate!

[JoB]

Earth hour is Saturday night (TOMORROW) from 8 to 9 PM.

To participate.. just turn off your lights… and maybe your appliances too.

I would turn off the AC if it was hot.. but don’t think i will be turning off the furnace if it is cold:)

spend an hour in candlelight with the ones you love…

does anyone know of a local pub or coffee shop that is participating.. at least by turning off lights?

we could meet and play games:)

[Anonymous]

I thought this was a good summary about why it matters.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1725947,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

[Anonymous]

That sounds like fun! I will definitely be participating if not anywhere else, then at home!

[andrea]

we are doing it too…and I asked my parents and bro & sis-in-law to do it also…sometimes all it does take is a small gesture to see what change can be made…

[charlabob]

We’ll be doing it too — I like the combination of gestures and hard-core action. Maybe we could meet by the water with candles and see how dark the city is. :-)

[beachdrivegirl]

That is amazing! And I am sold. I will be joining in as well. I cant believe one hour of darkness makes that big of a difference. it is a bit frusturating to think that not everyone is going to take this seriously!

[JoB]

oh dear.. i hear photo opportunity rolling around in hubby’s head…

i like the idea of candles at the beach… and i do want to see how much downtown shuts down… but that means we have to stay the whole hour because cars need lights to drive in the dark.

[beachdrivegirl]

Bring your blankets and dress in your best winter gear!

[Shibaguyz]

Where is this meeting happening? Don’t know if we’ll actually venture out but the thought of seeing the city go dark like that might be enough enticement to get us out.

Either way, we’ll definitely go dark here at home for an hour. mmmm… hot tea and a book by candle. Sounds perfect to me for a day like today!

[Shibaguyz]

I don’t see Seattle on the list on the website…

[Gina]

Check out the links on the main page of the blog–looks like the City of Seattle is participating quietly.

[Shibaguyz]

I found an article from the Times website that talked about Seattle participating. I would have thought Seattle would be on board with this in a BIG, LOUD way… odd…

[Gina]

You would think so, wouldn’t you? sure does seem odd. Maybe City Hall didn’t think it would be as big of an event as it has turned out to be.

[TheHouse]

I’m shutting everything off in my house for the next week so that my power bill is lower for once.

[Kayleigh]

I was at the Springsteen concert. Wasn’t about to ask him to turn it down…;-)

[JoB]

TheHouse..

does that mean we won’t hear from you for a week? or do you contact us at work?

I am pretty sure you were joking.. but cutting back on everything non-essential for a week actually is an interesting exercise.. and does save some reasonably big bucks.

To save more dollars.. and energy.. you can look at what you didn’t need and eliminate it…

You have already switched all the bulbs in your house out haven’t you?

That’s a fun exercise for the kids.. makes them think about using energy every time the light is switched on.. and does impact your electric bill.

i think there are still instant rebates on bulbs.. if you get them at Costco.. that makes them really cheap.

A guy like you who cares about his dollar should be all for that:)

[JoB]

Kayleigh..

you were at the springsteen concert? how fun!

i don’t know.. an acoustic hour with springsteeen might have been really cool. he does know how to play:)

[k]

i think the fact that the mayor left his front porch light on reflects his style of leadership. i thoroughly enjoyed the hour without power. candles, a touch of snowfall outside, peace and quiet. a delight. let’s take this exercise and expand it to daily living. simply unplugging unused appliances etc can help. every bit counts!

[Kayleigh]

Ooh, Jo, it would have been cool indeed. I have the Nebraska album (on vinyl even) and like him as a quiet storyteller.

Honestly, I think he’s best with the E Street Band. They bring it all together for him, Clarence and Max and Nils, so talented in their own right.

Really a remarkable show and well worth the huge carbon footprint.

[Gina]

Perhaps the mayor has a solar porch light. ;)

[JoB]

Kayleigh..

i am glad you had a great time. and yes, it probably was worth the carbon footprint.

that is what it is all about, isn’t it? deciding what is and isn’t worth the carbon footprint.

appliances that sit unused and plugged in aren’t worth the carbon footprint.

appliance that are constantly used are.

I think power saver relays should be standard in all appliances… but they aren’t. And i don’t think i am going to spend the money right now to replace mine:) but when i need to replace them that will be one of the things i look for.

as i see it… the value in earth hour is that it reminds children.. who will have the option of more power savy choices one day… that this is an important issue.

Some of us have been wearing sweaters since Jimmy Carter tried to make it cool:)

Now if they would only make gas friendly autos with old body friendly seats:)

k..

As for our mayor.. so far i am not impressed.

[charlabob]

I have to say I live on the mayor’s street and Earth Hour didn’t seem to hit our neighborhood in a big way :-(

OTOH, the charla and bob had a great time with candles and battery-powered laptop; we started out listening to “The Third Man” on our tivo-for-radio and realized (duh) we could watch it. So we took a trip back to a time when life was a lot simpler and more fun — black and white movies on a small screen! Wound up with the lights off and candles on for 2 earth hours, not one.

More good news for the planet: Fast Company had an interview with John Doerr (major Venture Capitalist funder of technology companies) and they’re moving in a big way to fund green technology BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR MONEYMAKING! (And, for the goodness, but this stuff ain’t gonna happen until big bidness figures out it is profitable and Doerr is a big step in that direction.)

[JoB]

charlabob…

you got that right. this will be big business.. and it’s high time somebody figured that out.

Now.. if they can just do it in volume so th prices for this big business are affordable for the masses…

the technology mostly already exists.. it just isn’t affordable.

it sounds like you had a grand two hours.. my nap was good:)

[Author]

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