How, technically speaking, turning on lights at home or office affect the climate?

Question

Question Details: I hear people say that turning off lights at home or office, or in the factories etc, can help the climate. So (I´m sorry my ignorance on this point) I´d like to know exactly "how"? How does that affect the global warming? Do the bulbs release some sort of bad die-hard gases, difficult to get dispersed? Or is it the massive amount of heating produced by the cities around the world that counts to warm the planet?

I'll appreciate your explanations!

Answer 1

All of that.  The energy used to produce the light bulbs, the energy used to produce the electricity.  Most of this is not green, say coal powered electric plants, and contribute to global warming.  The lights heat us a room unless you use fluorescents, but don't release bad gases.

Answer 2

The energy used. To get the energy we give off carbon dioxide and it causes green house gasses. The green house gasses block heat waves. The heat waves get trapped and the Earth gets warmer.

Answer 3

Again, turning off your lights is just a feel good solution.  It does nothing to conserve energy.

The "conventional wisdom" is that shutting off lights reduces power consumption.  Actually, the generating station will never notice if your lights are on or not.  That's akin to saying that you would get better gas mileage if you took the lint out of your pocket.

Now if "everybody" shut off their lights, there would be a noticeable difference.  Which is why the global warming movement is working to force you to do what they think is best, even if the science doesn't support their position.

Answer 4

Most all electric companies use nuclear reactors that produce co2 which in turn creates global warming. They could attain electricity through air and water power but won't because it would make electricity cheaper = less money for them. Who cares about the earth. It's only everyones lives at stake. When will people learn?  Thanks for the question!

Answer 5

Anytime you're using electricity it's going to affect the climate.  This is because 52% of the power in the USA comes from coal power plants, and burning coal emits large amounts of carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas.  Greenhouse gases cause global warming which causes global climate change, so there you have it.

Turning lights on -> using electricity -> burning coal -> releasing CO2 -> increasing the greenhouse effect -> causing global warming -> causing global climate change.

Answer 6

because light makes stuff warmer?

Answer 7

It doesn't.

Answer 8

Turn off all your lights in your home, then wander around aimlessly. Once you trip down the stairs and snap your neck, you will save the world from your exhaling CO2. Sorry about being so graphic, but AGW requires drastic steps to be taken by all of us. Personally, I have stopped a forms of exercise and flatulence.