Earth Hour - a global movement on climate change

At 8pm on 29th March the world want you to switch off your lights for one hour to inspire people to take action on climate change.

Last year more than 2 million people in Sydney flicked off their light switches and enjoyed an hour of darkness for one hour - Earth Hour.

By reducing Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour (the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one hour) the event showed that together, our small actions can make a difference to global warming.

Landmarks like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turned their lights off, and the worlds media took notice.

This year the event has gone global and many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

Earth Hour will be held at 8pm (your local time) on March 29th. This year we all should be getting involved!

More info to be found here

8pm to 9pm on a friday night! Are they just trying to up the stats I predict that a large number of people will have their lights turned off, however they might also be on the way to the pub.

Saturday night.

well pretty much the same thing applies, but thanks for pointing that out.

Wasn't an idea like this binned in Europe due to the stress it would but the energy grid under when everyone turns the lights back on?

I must say, switching the lights off for an hour certainly is an inspiration

What a stupid, mindless idea. You think that anything we do like that will change anything when you have countries like China using a hell of a lot more energy than us? Why don't you save a bit of power by not turning on your computer and posting on the internet, with the added bonus that we won't have to read such drivel?

Hmm... let's see... computer + TV + stereo + DVD player + microwave popcorn + oven for snack
(don't forget heating, fridge, freezer, clock, humidifier etc)

minus two energy saving lightbulbs...

= oooh, my... we're gonna save lots of energy there, eh?

Last year when they did it in Sydney, the energy use was down by an estimated 10% for that hour. That's a fair amount in my eyes.

Well you can spend your hour in darkness and feel all cosy and smug that you've done your bit or you can actually do something that will make a difference and reduce your footprint (or do nothing if your that kind of a thoughtless git)

OK, thanks. Noted in my diary. I'll be blasting down the traffic-free Autobahn in my V12 at the specified date and time enjoying myself.

yeah...but are ya gonna turn off your (head)lights? Inquiring minds want to know...

Nope... light's are going to be blazing away... air-con on full...cd player on max... pedal to the metal...

Click to view attachment

Honestly, I'm disgusted. You'll be burning hippies next. Oh hang on - aren't hippies carbon neutral?

well you ppl obviously dont get the message, turn off your stuff for 1 whole hour...it actually can make a difference, consider you wouldnt let run your telly & dvd player while actually listening to your sterio etc...but if you would do unplug your stuff instead of turning it on standby everyday, Yes you could make a differnce with that...maybe you think...ooohhhh well its only 1 telly but if everyone would take part, multiply that by all the tellies around the world, got it? or you can just ignore it completely and continue whining about climate change and weather and whatever else...

Actually, yes, I would have the stereo on when watching a DVD movie on my TV. It is this revolutionary new idea of getting stereo sound at home like in a mini home cinema. Perhaps you haven't heard about it yet? I do realize that it's only been around for 20 or 30 years

As for turning everything off, surely you're joking! Almost all home heating systems require some form of electricity. My phone also needs to be plugged in. And there's no way that I'm turning off my fridge or freezer.

As for standby, that's been done ages ago for a very different reason. Most of my electronic appliances have power bars that protect against spikes that might cause damage. So when I shut things off using my power bars, then they are all the way off. I've already switched most lights to energy efficient bulbs even though I truly hate them.

So what did you expect? That I unplug everything, let the food rot, the pipes freeze, camp out in my backyard and build a bonfire?

I'm not unplugging everything. But I am going, for this hour, to make a conscious effort to have the lights off. I know I'm often guility of leaving the lights on when I leave the room. And no matter how small, that is a waste. So if for this hour, I make the effort, maybe it will have a spill-on effect and help me remember to do it on a more regular basis.

Bipa, you are obviously already energy conscious, with turning off your power bars and energy-efficient light bulbs. Why the sarcasm? Not everyone is as aware as you and maybe an event like this is just what they need to pick up some pointers.

The sarcasm comes from having been through all this before, only last time it was the threat of global cooling.

I'm tired of being told that I need to cut back. After hearing variations on the same theme for over 30 years, you'd think that people would have already gotten the message. Of course we need to be a little more careful with our energy use. But I sure wish the scientists, environmentalists and politicians would get their stories straight. I do stuff that requires little effort on my part - no brainer kinds of things that make economic sense. Our house heating system is a geo-thermal heat pump with floor heating which requires a little electricity but no additional oil, gas or wood. I've got the efficient bulbs and since I'm alone at home a lot with Hubby travelling, I rarely have more than two lights on at any one time anyway. One of our cars is being converted to LPG. I pay horrendous taxes for the priviledge of not having to lug groceries 15-20 km by bus, yet some folks here continue the mantra that driving a car makes one an energy hog regardless of where you live. (I'm out in the country and a typical grocery shopping trip involves around a 50km round trip.)

What most folks don't understand is that it makes almost no difference overall if a family turns off one or two lightbulbs while corporations continue to light up the sky with their buildings. So if turning off a light for an hour makes you feel better, then go right ahead. But don't fool yourself into thinking that you're actually accomplishing anything.

Year of Global Cooling

Well I shall be doing my bit & turning everything off (well sorry but not the fridge!) don't really need the lights etc on when I'm at the pub

Hmm wonder if they will turn off the streetlights, might make things interesting!