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Dim your lights
I didn't participate in the event last night to dim the lights.
Because I think it is useless.
I am a heavy supporter of ecological living, and us having saving lamps and no heating until the evening (really the apartment warms itself during day, even in these 'cold' months). Heck, me not having a car as long as I don't need one, is because of that belief.
You'd say I would have to support an event like last night.
I don't believe people who dim the light for 5 minutes and then light them again, are willing to change the world.
Heck my neighbors dimmed their light, but left the heavy flatscreen plasma tv on. And this morning at 9 it was on again.
I don't see people giving up their luxury. I don't see myself giving up my extra electricity plugs. So why would I fake it by dimming the light?
I agree with Eskimokaka: don't give fees, just disallow us to use normal lamps. Leave us no choice but saving lamps. Changing the lamps in your house saves 95% of energy. Each day... Talk about helping the environment...
(Not even mentioning the savings on your electricity bill!)
Technorati Tags: electricity, environment, ecological
Posted on February 2, 2007
in Limit of my knowledge
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Comments (3)
Comments
I think the main point was to draw media attention to the issues of global warming and climate change. Here's some of what my local carbon footprint group sent on the subject:
"This is not just about saving 5 minutes worth of electricity; this is
about getting the attention of the media, politicians, and ourselves.
Five minutes of electrical down time for the planet: this does not take
long, and costs nothing, and will show all political leaders that global
warming is an issue that needs to come first and foremost in political
debate."
I think you are right about light bulbs tho' - it's pretty much bound to come down to legislation in the end.
Posted by Rona | February 2, 2007 12:39 PMI think the 'campaign' of dimming the lights did have the desired effect which is making (more) people aware of the problem. But like you've said, awareness isn't the solution itself. It's the first step before you can actually push forward some decisions. It's important to inform people before executing unpopular decisions and I think we're still in that phase.
Posted by Bart | February 2, 2007 12:41 PMSee, I think that if you embark on such a media-engaging project, you might as well do something constructive with longer lasting consequences. Why engage people with something that ultimately has no effect. Moreover, it sends the wrong message here. It's a passive one-off gesture that doesn't pressure government or industry in the slightest.
And if those energy-consuming twats from across the street get away with thinking they've achieved something by switching off their lights for a measly 5 minutes, then all this demonstrates is that the majority of society has become so damn lazy, that the only sacrifice they're willing to make is 5 minutes so they can appease their conscience.
Can anyone point out any practical effect of this action? Has a new law been drawn up? Has concious really been raised if people switch on their plasma TV the second after the 5 minutes are up?
Posted by LePew | February 2, 2007 12:56 PM