Author Topic: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Eternal_Midnight 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Earth Hour, which happens tonight from 8:30pm to 9:30pm, has become an annual event. Many people who don't give a second thought to their energy use patterns in a normal day, suddenly give a crap and want to turn off their stuff for an hour so they can feel good about how they are helping the environment.

The problem with Earth Hour is this: everyone turns off their stuff for an hour, and energy use drops. Then the entire time zone turns their stuff back on, roughly at the same time, around 9:30. When you turn something on, a surge of energy is required to get things started, and this puts enormous strain on the energy grid.

Now, power producers are aware of this, and because power generation doesn't happen instantly, they tend to ramp up power production well ahead of 9:30pm, so that when everyone turns their stuff on, there won't be any brownouts or blackouts that could potentially damage equipment, or leave people in the dark and the cold.

What this means is that although people feel good because they've participated in this collective catharsis, very little energy is actually saved. Power producers end up creating more power at a time when normal energy usage is actually falling, because 9:30 is past the normal peak time of energy usage, in a typical weekend day.

Lighting also contributes only a small percentage of overall energy usage, and the combined effect is minimal.

If you really want to contribute and do something good, consider unplugging your home entertainment system after every time you use it. Over the course of a year, this will do substantially more for conserving energy than your participation in Earth Hour.

 

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Tych2 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
laugh What a stupid idea. Earth hour.

 

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__Bonk__ 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
The hypocrite hour!

grin

 

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Mastara 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
I'll make sure to turn everything on! Thanks... well I'll be doing my calculus final anyway so

 

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Koneg 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour

I post the exact same thing EM did almost every year I think. tongue

Plus, this gem:
To paraphrase Dr. Buzzo:

"A day for people to turn off their lights for an hour and light up their petroleum-derived candles, watch the stars while cooking on the propane or charcoal grill and wave to the helicopters dispatched to capture this glorious world spectacle, proving once and for all how dumb humans can be. It's idiotic and the one thing it seems to be good for is advertising. A bunch of companies have "sponsored" Earth Hour, and thus they can join the crowd of idiots patting themselves on the back for what a good thing they did."


 

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paulg_68 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Aw shit. We have libtard family visiting. I just know they're going to make us observe it.

frustrated

 

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Mastara 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Your house, your rules. Company, whether family or friend should not dictate the policies of your home. Respect the home or feel free to go

 

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paulg_68 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
My rule is that you can't come to my house.

coffee

 

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__Bonk__ 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Invite the Outpost over Paul!

grin

 

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IMHO 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
Tych2 posted:
laugh What a stupid idea. Earth hour.


You claim to be more liberal than me laugh

 

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Tych2 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
I am and that's not a liberal idea. That's a stupid idea. I will concede you are more stupid than I.

 

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__Bonk__ 
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Subject: A Commentary on Earth Hour
The whole premise the planet needs saving is wrong. Humanity needs saving. The planet will eventually make the human race go extinct

It will still be here for billions more years before the sun turns into a red giant

grin

 

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