Earth Hour

[Easy Bakes 253]

Every one turns thier lights off for one hour.

Wonder if the participating citys will turn off the building lights,parking lots,street lamps ect.

be nice to see the sky the color its supposed to be

Black.

http://www.earthhour.org/

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Boggy1 45]

Interestingly, my County Council has brought in a new innitiative recently; all streetlamps, except for key ones, will be turned off entirely from half midnight..for the next..forever. I've not seen it yet (they only activated it in this area yesterday), but apparently its amazing how it reduces light pollution.

Originally they had two in every three streetlamps switched off by default, so they would never come on at night, but there was a tonne of complaints because apparently it made streets too dark. God forbid them if they ever lived before the advent of common streetlamps. I loved it myself. Made everything so much nicer on my poor hyperphotosensitive eyes.

Anyway, they did this to be "green" and to save energy..and of course money. It's only tangibaly connected to this Earth Day thing, but interesting non the less.

[Duke87 1,070]

The problem with turning off all the lights at night in cities is, well, a matter of security and safety. Darkness makes excellent cover for criminal activity. You keep things well lit, people are safe. You provide shadows to lurk in, you give muggers a place to hide waiting in ambush.

Besides, as far as I know, most public streetlights around here automatically operate based on the ambient light level and cannot simply be flipped off without going around and doing it to each one individually... or completely cutting the power to everything (which you obviously don't want to do).

Another thing you see a lot is lights on the front of buildings with motion sensors. Normally they're off, but they flip on if they sense motion (like from someone walking by). Serves the double function of saving electricity and providing a little extra security by catching would be troublemakers off-guard... someone thinks they're skulking around under cover of darkness and then all of a sudden bam! They're bathed in bright light.

[belfastuniguy 18]

Very happy to see my home city taking part, I shall also take part. I know it appears like a small thing, but on a global scale it really does get the attention and hopefully gives a push for greater reforms.

[TwelveToneMusic 0]

Didn't know anything about it.

[Follarch 326]

I've heard of this before, though Seattle hasn't signed up yet it seems. Though San Francisco is all for it, as well as LA and Vegas lol.

[Meg 368]

The Dark Sky Association advocates using lighting that lights the streets, not the sky.  

This can be accomplished using different kinds of light fixtures.

When you think about it, sending light into sky is wasteful and does not accomplish much.

 

[Duke87 1,070]

It's unavoidable, though. Any lighting you have will send some light in all directions no matter what you do. Such is the nature of it.

Still, you can try and direct it more at its intended target. Lights that point down are certainly better than open globes in terms of efficiency... although they won't really help avoid making stars invisible since the glare problem still exists. Seeing the night sky in detail requires that you be in darkness and away from large light sources... ain't gonna happen in any urban area unless the power goes out. And even then, headlights, people with generators....

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: SkiGeek The Dark Sky Association advocates using lighting that lights the streets, not the sky.

This can be accomplished using different kinds of light fixtures.

When you think about it, sending light into sky is wasteful and does not accomplish much. quote>

Thing is though, most light fixtures aren't designed to light the sky, but they do it anyway.  The very principles that make them useful for humans means that they are going to light up the sky to some extent no matter what you try to do about it.

Also, lighting more than just the ground has it's uses.  Would you want to walk along a sidewalk where the lights were designed to light only the street itself, leaving everything else, including the sidewalk, in darkness?

[Deathtoall 28]

The Czech Republic actually got a law passed removing excessive lighting during night time. I hope you all participate with Earth Hour, it has been happening for a short time here now and has gone global. Turn off your lights. Simple really. The actual idea is to show solidarity on Global Warming though.

[Zezug 6]

heh, it's not a bad idea, just as a symbol, but I usually keep my extra stuff off when Im not using it anyway.

[Duke87 1,070]

Me, personally, I have my lights off at times when most sane people would have them on. I sit in the dark on my computer all the time (actually, I'm doing that right now...). What do I need the light for? I can see the screen without any external illumination. People tell me it's bad for my eyes to be staring at a bright screen in the dark, but whatever.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: Duke87 I sit in the dark on my computer all the time... quote>

Why would you want to sit on your computer?  Isn't that rather uncomfortable? 

Barbarossaquote>

 

LOL!

Originally posted by: Deathtoall  The actual idea is to show solidarity on Global Warming though.quote>

 

Then I need a 25-hour clock, so I can leave mine on an extra hour.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Why would you want to sit on your computer?  Isn't that rather uncomfortable?  quote>

You're taking the word "on" too literally. "On" my computer in the sense that I am using it.

Or do you not understand the concept of idiomatic expressions?

[ShadeSlayer 15]

Originally posted by: Duke87

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Why would you want to sit on your computer?  Isn't that rather uncomfortable?  quote>

You're taking the word "on" too literally. "On" my computer in the sense that I am using it.

Or do you not understand the concept of idiomatic expressions?quote>

Ever heard the term sarcasm?

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[SIMplMn9 0]

I know many are upset that us out here in the Americas don't help with these things.. well thats actually going to change this year.

As many do know, Los angeles is geogrpahically the largest city in the US, and this year has agreed to join Earth Hour. Now although our impact wouldn't be as big as say.. New York shutting off, this can be considered a significant thing for the West.. especially since LA doesn't normally do these things.

Downtown is expected to shut off, including the US Bank tower.. that tall building in the middle of downtown. City Hall will shut, and even LAX has agreed to shut off much of the front display light, like those glowing pillars. Many airlines going into LAX have said that they will run on dim light when it is safe to do so, to help.

The Griffith Park Observatory will shut off as well, but be open to the public to gaze at either the darken city, or the sky.

Personally, I would love it if they could make all the freeways out here shut off for an hour.. but that may be a bit dangerous. Though it would be fun to see all the cars on the freeways shut off their lights for an hour..

Oh! and many hotels and resturants will be offering candlelight dinners, for example, during that hour.

Los Angeles, California will go dark in March.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: ShadeSlayer Ever heard the term sarcasm?quote>

Yes. In fact, I was employing it here:

Or do you not understand the concept of idiomatic expressions?quote>

Barby-boy was being difficult with me so I was being difficult back. See?

People I've called "____ boy" count = 6

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Meg 368]

:::  coughs  ::::

The topic here is Earth Hour.

Isn't it?  

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Shadow Assassin 336]

I personally think that Earth Hour is a waste of time... and energy.

Hasn't anyone yet realised that power plants can't just switch off? They're still producing the juice... and where is it going? Definitely not to those lights that just got all turned off a moment ago...

[jon7985 3]

Downtown is expected to shut off, including the US Bank tower.. that tall building in the middle of downtown. City Hall will shut, and even LAX has agreed to shut off much of the front display light, like those glowing pillars. Many airlines going into LAX have said that they will run on dim light when it is safe to do so, to help.quote>

The news lied to you, the jets will not shutoff thier lights until they're above 10Kfeet or safely parked at the gates. Its an FAA regulation and extremely unsafe to taxi around jumbo jets without lights on, trust me, I fly on C-130's and lights are life. Edit: I guess thats almost spot on to what you posted.*Smacks forehead*

However I think it'd be nice to shut off a few lights here and there, I personally like the lights on big towers it makes them looks much more pleasing to the eyes at night. If you're a big fan of looking at the stars (I am too) maybe you should plan a trip to the national parks, the desert, or just in the country. When I was deployed in Iraq we got a great view of the stars because the sparse lighting on base is all directional; lighting its intended targets, and the background lighting......oh wait its Iraq there is no background lighting. The Milky Way galactic plain in the wilderness of a 3rd world country is absolutely breathtaking, something you won't see in many places around a developed country. How about Safety on the streets though, think crime will rise?

[Yoman3 5]

You know....I bet Earth Hour will end up using more energy than it saves. Not that its saying anything since like SA pointed out you don't just shut off power plants. When all the lights come back on the demand will spike and the power plants will have to rev up again, producing more pollution Not to mention all the energy being used to advertise it etc. As for raising awareness etc, anyone who doesn't know about "Global Warming" must live in a cave.

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Yoman3 You know....I bet Earth Hour will end up using more energy than it saves. Not that its saying anything since like SA pointed out you don't just shut off power plants. When all the lights come back on the demand will spike and the power plants will have to rev up again, producing more pollution Not to mention all the energy being used to advertise it etc. As for raising awareness etc, anyone who doesn't know about "Global Warming" must live in a cave.quote>

It's interesting to note that a lot of "green" programs aren't nearly as green as they are marketed as being.  More than one proposal for helping the environment has been shown to do more harm than good.  Just to use this as one example, several years ago, the EPA had to come before Congress and admit that it's recycling program was actually causing more environmental damage than it was meant to solve.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: hym

Originally posted by: Yoman3 You know....I bet Earth Hour will end up using more energy than it saves. Not that its saying anything since like SA pointed out you don't just shut off power plants. When all the lights come back on the demand will spike and the power plants will have to rev up again, producing more pollution Not to mention all the energy being used to advertise it etc. As for raising awareness etc, anyone who doesn't know about "Global Warming" must live in a cave.quote>

It's interesting to note that a lot of "green" programs aren't nearly as green as they are marketed as being.  More than one proposal for helping the environment has been shown to do more harm than good.  Just to use this as one example, several years ago, the EPA had to come before Congress and admit that it's recycling program was actually causing more environmental damage than it was meant to solve.quote>

 

Another one that does nothing to help is the water botles they make now, 40% or so less plastic.So what? 

that just means the trillions of plastic bottles in the land fills have less plastic in them, and you have to be carfefull when you grab them to hard.

40% less material dont mean theres any less of them, and now they can make even more bottles with the current supply of materials.

[duack 14]

Let's not forget the pollution caused by the production of all the candles and any other crappy merchandise that is made in relation to earth hour. Also the fact that almost all candles release greenhouse gases (or so Iv'e heard). Does anyone know what candles are made of?

This whole thing is pointless.

Here's a greener alternative to earth hour -  lol

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Originally posted by: duack  Does anyone know what candles are made of?

quote>

Most are made with paraffin, which is a petroleum product, a byproduct of diesel refining if I'm not mistaken. Some are made with beeswax, which I assume is better. I can't use candles because of my elderly mother's lung condition, which really bums out my wife.