"Earth Hour"---Turn out the lights!

[Tanuki]

I found out about this from a friend in Australia. In the city of Sydney, everyone is being encouraged to turn off lights, unplug "stand-by" appliances, etc., for one hour on the evening of March 31, as part of an effort to raise public awareness and kick off a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Good on ya, Aussies! We should do something like this here.
http://earthhour.smh.com.au/events/

Lots of events, from stargazing to candlelight BBQs, are scheduled. They are obviously taking global warming seriously and trying to help people take realistic steps to do something about it.

[Subdivisions]

1. This is an excellent idea! I'm in! Think we can make it happen

by March 31?

[RC]

3. Local time or Sydney time?

Oh, and don't forget the International Date Line.

[Tanuki]

4. your own local time, according to organizers :) eom

[Sherman A1]

2. A good idea

I would encourage all to switch to Compact Florescent Bulbs as an easy step to helping themselves and global warming. Also looking at the tax credit for home improvements that relate to energy use is another good option.

[laylah]

5. Excellent!

Calendar marked and event forwarded far and wide.

Jenn

[skids]

6. A bad, bad idea, were it to take off in the U.S.

The shock to the electrical grid would not have productive consequences. At the very least, only the natgas "spinning reserve" power plants would be able to shut down in time. The rest would have to dump their load. That assumes that the grid is equipped to dump that much load, of course. In the end it would waste more energy than it would save. In the worst case, stuff might blow up. Our grid is not modern enough to take the strain of an action like this.

Sorry to be negative but this is just a really bad idea, especially since it is just a symbolic gesture.

[TheBaldyMan]

7. how long have you been a power engineer?

[Tanuki]

8. According to the project's FAQ section, not a problem

"If everyone turns their lights back on at the same time - will there be a power surge?
No. We've checked with energy companies and authorities and turning all the lights back on won't cause any issues."
(see link in OP)

[skids]

9. Well, one hopes...

...that any future things like this also bother to check with their power companies.

Seems like a lot of effort for a symbolic gesture, still, but if they covered
the bases, more power to them. Or less, as the case may be. :-)