Giveaway of the Day Forums » Talks

1. Bobby
   Member

   This year, Earth Hour will be celebrated on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. (your own local time) with more than 200 cities officially participating. The idea is to turn off your lights for one hour in order to lessen your ecological 'footprint' on Earth.

   The idea was formulated by a couple Aussies and the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 and, in the first year alone, realized the equivalent savings of taking 48,000 cars off the roads.

   The Golden Gate Bridge will go dark, as will Soldier Field and Wrigley Stadium (during baseball season!). The huge Coca Cola plant in Hotlanta will be turning out all of its lights. Ditto Toronto's CN Tower and the world's third largest mall (Philippines). The beautiful lights around Niagara Falls will fade to black for one hour, too.

   You can sign up here: http://www4.earthhourus.org/

   Think you'll die of boredom? Nah. Have a stargazing party, or use the Earth Hour site's entertaining suggestions for the lights-out event, including tips for the fashion-challenged.

   If you are fortunate enough to be in Toronto, Nelly Furtado will be giving a free concert at Nathan Philips Square (powered by renewable energy).

   Earth Hour Canada: http://wwf.ca/earthhour/

   Earth Hour en espanol: http://www.earthhour.org/espanol

   Be sure to take along your camera! After the event, upload your Earth Hour photos to the group's ...

   Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/groups/earthhour

   YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/earthhour2008

   I became # 271,244 to sign up .. what number will you be?

   Posted 3 months ago #

2. graylox
   Member

   Wanted to sign up - but they don't like aliens.
   Cant find a German or international site.
   But will shut down the lights tonight.

   Posted 3 months ago #

3. kerikaz
   Member

   I just signed up and looks like I am #276,654....wow 5410 more people in 3 hours, that's very impressive. I'm also honored to live in one of the flagship cities, Phoenix AZ. Let's hope we can make a difference and people begin to make changes in energy consumption.
   Keri

   Posted 3 months ago #

4. graylox
   Member

   found the right site , I have # 277 573

   http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg31/graylox/earthhour.jpg

   Posted 3 months ago #

5. LeKanaw
   Member

   Hi Bobby
   Thank you for posting the links, saved me a bunch of time.
   I subscribe to a bunch of sites, donate & participate as much as I can.

   And I'm very careful in my day-to-day, always recycling, not wasting resources.
   So I'm glad to see other members interested too.
   But I thought there would be much much more!!!

   C'mon people, lets sign up en masse!!!!

   I signed-up, as usual something went wrong!!!!!
   I don't have a number! My page doesn't have the greeting I see on Gray's screenshot. I only have "Thank you for registering with Earth Hour!".
   And there's nothing where the number is supposed to be :(
   Why this stuff always happens to me!! Grrrrr!!!

   Hi Graylox
   Glad you found it :)
   I should have checked this page again, before... Sorry!
   Thank you for the screenshot :D

   Posted 3 months ago #

6. Lee
   Moderator

   I remember the 1970's in the UK when the electricity supplies were turned off for longer
   most nights than one hour.

   Luv to know what all the fuss is about I have been recycling and not wasting energy for 30 years.

   I guess it's the middle classes jumping on the hug a tree bandwagon again.

   If these people wish to make a difference, quit driving cars, quit living in massive homes, quit flying all over the world.

   Posted 3 months ago # | Login to Send PM

7. graylox
   Member

   You are so right Lee, but nevertheless, I'll support this event. With a bit luck it will become more than only an event, maybe some young people will start thinking, maybe some old people too.
   My question is, how much energy will be spend for this event, for the Internet presentation and all PR ?

   Posted 3 months ago #

8. Jaddis
   Member

   Hey,

   Did did you notice that Google has created a special homepage in honor of this advent? If you have not check it out. http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8

   Posted 3 months ago #

9. Spiritwolf
   Member

   I thought the google page for the event was the prettiest google homepage I've ever seen. I wish they would keep that homepage!

   Posted 3 months ago #

10. graylox
    Member

    Jaddis, is that the right link ? I get only a normal GOOGLE search site

    Posted 3 months ago #

11. Bobby
    Member

    @Graylox, if Google is your home page (iGoogle), then choose the Classic home page version. At that point, you will see the new blacked-out page. NICE.

    @Lee, same here. I was raised to respect the Earth, in Native American tradition, and one of my passions is no-trace camping (leave nothing but footprints). My children and grandchildren have the same instruction; in fact, one of my pastimes with the grandkids: clean up local streams and riverbanks while we're looking for fossils and artifacts, or when we go to one of the swimmin' holes. Always easier to get a message across when it is part of a fun activity, and it's always more effective when it is a way of life.

    @Kerikaz .. wow! that is impressive! Sure hope folks make it a way of life, and not simply a yearly event. To change the world, one must first change their little corner of the world! (A fellow Zonie! I was born in Phoenix, a long long time ago).

    @LeKanaw .. awwww sorry your sign up number didn't post! You're not the only target of the infamous, onery (and some say mythical) Internet Gremlins, though. It's my theory they are summoned to work much like firemen to a call .. their alarm bell is the 'Submit,' 'Save' or 'Send' button on any given web page. ... ..... (tea.. I must have more tea .. my caffeine levels are dangerously low!)

    @Spirit Wolf and Jaddis: thank you for mentioning the Google home page! I had not noticed, since the change does not affect personalized home pages.

    Posted 3 months ago #

12. Buckleysmom
    Member

    I just have a question and I hope it doesn't sound really stupid. If all these people, companies, organizations, etc. turn off their lights for one hour and at the end of the hour everyone turns them back on.....is there the possibility of......oh, I don't know......blowing some gigantic fuse somewhere or something like that? I mean that's a lot of power that will suddenly hit the circuits or whatever those things are called. Could that happen???

    Posted 3 months ago #

13. kerikaz
    Member

    Buckleysmom,

    When I went to the Phoenix link there was a Faq's tab, here is what it said to your question:

    8. Is there danger of a power surge when the lights get turned back on?
    No. WWF and the Earth Hour partners are working closely with APS and SRP in Phoenix to ensure a safe event with no adverse impact on power systems.

    I'm not sure what steps are being taken, but I'm reasonably confident it will be under control.

    Keri

    Posted 3 months ago #

14. sukibabe
    Member

    I too liked the look of the Google Home Page!

    My lights are rarely on as I like candles and oil lamps. Will start a fire in the pit and sit by it(to cold yet in WI)!

    Good Idea, but I already do the save the earth thing.

    Suki

    Posted 3 months ago #

15. Buckleysmom
    Member

    Thanks for the info Keri.

    We have so many power outages here in the winter due to ice and in summer due to lightening storms that hubby says we should get an extra hour instead of having to give one up. But we'll join in anyway.....besides, like Suki, I like candles too.

    Posted 3 months ago #

16. MrFishy
    Member

    Have y'all seen this . . . http://www.blackle.com/ Check out the "Blackle Pages" concept.

    Along with this global black-out effort, we really need to stop using shipping peanuts. What good is the sky gonna be with no ocean? I guarantee there are discarded shipping materials located where no man has set foot. Consumerism has it's dear price.

    Posted 3 months ago #

17. sukibabe
    Member

    Wow, Fishy I like it!

    Since as I said, I don't like bright lights anyway(the white computer screen)that one is pretty cool!

    I HATE shipping peanuts! I save them and ship them back,lol! My form of recycling!

    Suki

    Posted 3 months ago #

18. MrFishy
    Member

    Simple dry, popped corn works well and you can toss the remains in the compost, eat it, or feed the critters.

    Posted 3 months ago #

19. Bobby
    Member

    Wow, Fishy .. great site! Did you notice that it posts the amount of watt-hours saved? For a real eye-opener, take note of that amount, allow the page to sit for a minute and then hit refresh. In the time it took to type this, the amount rose from 535,999.097 to 536,000.077 Watt hours saved. (Let me put it in perspective .. I type 80-100 words per minute..)

    Posted 3 months ago #

20. goodgotd
    Member

    Not for me, I'm afraid- 2 (perhaps more, I'll think while I'm rambling) reasons- first, I'm on hydro- no carbon footprint. Second, I turn all the lights out, I can't stand up- if I am standing, I fall down.

    And most of my usually on lighting is 100% solar powered (2 63w panels running maybe 10 watts of load unless the power goes out, then the UPS cuts in) LED's and don't have switches, the rest are CFL low wattage.

    most nights I don't use anything but the LED's. I think the water heater, stove and oven are our only major loads. and watt-hours are tiny units.

    Posted 3 months ago #

21. RunesageMagik
    Member

    Very impressed at how far "off the grid" goodgotd's gotten. Wonder if you've looked into this celeb-sponsored eco-site: http://renu.citizenre.com/

    Mr. Fishy - the plight of marine and coral ecosystems doesn't receive nearly enough press. PBS & Jean Cousteau teamed up for an eye-opening special some time back-
    http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/episodes/kure/

    Of course when a president needs a photo op, token lip service with an environmental theme is popular:
    http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2006/2006-06-15-03.asp

    Otherwise, the travesty of debris and seine net massacres continues:
    http://www.coris.noaa.gov/about/hazards/
    http://www.hawaiianatolls.org/about/kure.php

    Posted 3 months ago #

22. goodgotd
    Member

    got the solar back in 1999. not 'green', just broke. LED's because they last a looooong time and are low drain.

    Posted 3 months ago #

23. RunesageMagik
    Member

    goodgotd, if I could, I'd be tempted to convert my house to pure LED and sunlight sources. Hate overhead fluorescents/incandescents, much prefer working in dim light conditions. Almost cried when I had to toss an old video recorder with it's most appealing pale blue digital clock... cast a soft light across the den, far more pleasant than red LED. Still have a blue one in kitchen that rivals full moonlight. LED, fiber optics and even reflected sunlight shafts that direct true light to lower levels are concepts I hope catch on.

    Posted 3 months ago #

24. maizeydaze
    Member

    RM and Goody, I'd like to install a few of these Tubular Skylights by Sun -Dome in my kitchen/livingroom area. It shouldn't be too much of a problem in a ranch, except that there isn't any access to the area inside the rafters, under the roof.

    Posted 3 months ago #

25. RunesageMagik
    Member

    Maizey, that shouldn't present a problem for a qualified installer. I suspect they'll simply cut right up through your ceiling after determining where rafters are located, then refinish the ceiling. Biggest problem with any sort of skylight install is sloppy exterior sealing of the joint betwixt the cowling and roof shingles & decking. Leaks are a gift that keep on giving, and just slapping a hefty coat of tar emulsion don't work. Demand a detailed explanation of what method and rubberized mat/aluminum flashing combo seal they'll use (in writing) and make darn sure they're licensed and insured.

    Posted 3 months ago #

26. Bobby
    Member

    Mother Earth News has been a favorite since the 60's. Years ago, they posted plans for an in-ground home .. not unusual nowadays, but the front of this home was graced with gorgeous rock and glass columns that supported a second floor balcony. Those columns were filled with water. The sun warmed the water by day, and by night, the warm water was used to heat the home.

    Still have the issue; building an eco-friendly home is one of the few things left on my 'bucket list,' started when I was in elementary school (noooo...it isn't written on parchment or scribed on rock tablets, despite my grandkids' opinions to the contrary!)

    --EDIT--

    Almost forgot ... if you are interested in comparison shopping for carbon offset items, try http://www.earthmoment.com/

    Posted 3 months ago #

27. goodgotd
    Member

    ah, Mother Earth News. I have most of the first couple-three hundred, including issue number 1, in hardcopy- plus the 1980-1990 & 1990-2000 cd's.

    Lifetime member, the collection went up in a fire, the new publishers told me to fibble off for new issues, but I got lucky at a couple of yard sales.

    Posted 3 months ago #

28. goodgotd
    Member

    me and my blown memory- to 138 in paper, and 1970-2000 on 3 cd's. so it averages out.

    Posted 3 months ago #

29. graylox
    Member

    Here is a GREEN search engine

    http://www.ecocho.co.nz/lang_en/whats-ecocho.php
    http://www.ecocho.com/us/index.html

    Info:
    http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?ContentId=7711

    That sounds good, I'll try it.

    Posted 3 months ago #

30. maizeydaze
    Member

    Graylox, I never knew that there was such a thing as a green search engine. Interesting...have to try them out.
    ________________________________________________

    I don't know why I hadn't thought to post this earlier, as I've been getting their newsletter for a while now. Here is National Geographic's The Green Guide.

    Posted 3 months ago #

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