Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: @nshq on 26/03/2011 15:30:03

Title: Will earthhour save energy?
Post by: @nshq on 26/03/2011 15:30:03
@nshq asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Will the amount of energy saved by earthhour turn off, be equalled or surpassed by the turn on and ramping the supply up?

What do you think?
Title: Will earthhour save energy?
Post by: Jolly- Joliver on 26/03/2011 19:17:54
@nshq asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Will the amount of energy saved by earthhour turn off, be equalled or surpassed by the turn on and ramping the supply up?

What do you think?

It should raise awareness of the energy issue, it's lots of people turning off all lights they do not need to use on a certain day I believe isnt it?

It will save energy that day, for sure. I don't think will do much to change the industry thou.
Title: Will earthhour save energy?
Post by: Lynda on 27/03/2011 14:30:05
I did try to observe Earth Hour yesterday!  At 8.30 pm I turned off lights, my computer and heating.   I had a candle (run short of them -forgot I only had one!)but read a newspaper with the aid of a wind-up torch.  At 9.30 pm I went up to the kitchen to finish my washing up after my evening meal.   As I passed by my terraced house stairs I realised I had left my bedroom light on all evening since I nipped up there to bring something down which I needed earlier! 

I did notice some other people weren't exactly serious about Earth Hour as I noticed a stream of headlights passing my window during the hour!  
Title: Will earthhour save energy?
Post by: Jolly- Joliver on 28/03/2011 03:12:00
I did try to observe Earth Hour yesterday!  At 8.30 pm I turned off lights, my computer and heating.   I had a candle (run short of them -forgot I only had one!)but read a newspaper with the aid of a wind-up torch.  At 9.30 pm I went up to the kitchen to finish my washing up after my evening meal.   As I passed by my terraced house stairs I realised I had left my bedroom light on all evening since I nipped up there to bring something down which I needed earlier! 

I did notice some other people weren't exactly serious about Earth Hour as I noticed a stream of headlights passing my window during the hour!  


[:)] driving a night without lights is against the law. Besides it was just grib power use, that was meant to be avoided and reduced, wasn't it?
Title: Will earthhour save energy?
Post by: CliffordK on 30/03/2011 18:35:41
Personally I didn't pay much attention to it.

Many of these programs have little overall impact.

I doubt the power generators can do very well with compensating for hour-by-hour power fluctuations, although I assume they can anticipate diurnal and weekly usage patterns.

As far as "don't fill your gas tanks on Tuesday type announcements.  They are effective if more people ride their bicycles on Tuesday, but ineffective if people instead choose to get a fill-up on Monday or Wednesday.