How much Energy was Saved in Earth Hour 2008? (Yesterday! Saturday 29 March)?

Question

How much Energy was Saved in Earth Hour 2008? (Yesterday! Saturday 29 March)?

Answer 1

Nothing was saved.

Electricity flows. It is made in anticipation os usage based on past history.  Once it is produced and sent down the power grid it's either used or wasted.

Instead of foolishly turning out all your lights for one hour, I would like to propose we all hold an HOUR of POWER where we acknowledge the immense freedom and ability electricity actually gives us.  Those who believe cutting back on power use does anything to help "save" the Earth should really consider what you are perpetuating.  I could list all the realities of energy use, but the bottom line is we are human and are very important.  We are not, however, powerful enough to save the Earth.

But even a feel good act like this has consequences.



In case some of you didn't realize, all the lights out on Saturday, 3/29, made it very hard to drive in the unexpected snow storm we received in the Puget Sound around Seattle, WA.  

This was a very foolish and ill-advised stunt to turn out street and city lights.  We sincerely hope no lives were put at risk because of some people's sanctimonious piety.

Answer 2

To the people who say there is a surge of energy when you turn lights on - you're wrong.  When a light is on, it's drawing power.  It takes no more power to turn it on than when it is on.  this is less true for old gymnasium style lights, where ballasts were used to generate a sufficient charge before they could be used.  But that wasn't an hours worth of energy.  

Truely the ignorance is astounding.  How could turning off lights be a bad thing?  What harm could possibly come from turning off a lamp in your house?  

If you all think that turning off lights is so useless, would you argue that turning on more lights would be more useful to saving energy?  

To answer your question, in Ontario, Ontario Power Generation is reporting that 5% less energy overall was used during earth hour.  In toronto, they are reporting 10% less usage.  

I'm sure in the coming days we'll see more numbers come out as various utilities publish their numbers and they are gathered and reported on.

Please, use your critical thinking skills when you answer questions, or analyze things, and don't just spout what others are saying.  There is no logical way it would use more power to turn off lights than to leave them on.

Answer 3

to me 29 = 29 or 29= 28 if you did not switch on ur light

Answer 4

It probably caused more power to be used. After the end of the hour when everyone turned things back on it caused huge power surges, thereby gaining nothing. Stupid idea.

Answer 5

The organisers of Saturday night's Earth Hour event say they believe the nation's power use was reduced by at least five per cent when the lights were turned off for an hour.

Answer 6

Verry Little Im SURE

Answer 7

Likely none, as only a middling number participated, and as the person above me mentioned, the power surge generated after when the participants turned their lights back on, likely negated any positive effect.

Answer 8

a lot!