Earth hour is tonight shut off your lights for it

**tas38** · 03-28-2009, 06:54 PM

Yes tonight is earth hour, if you want to vote to help our earth then turn off your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 PM your time zone.

I'll be sitting in the dark for the hour, and hopefully most other people will as well. We need to send a clear message by doing this, may be we can't stop it but we need to try our best to stop it or slow it down.

**south** · 03-28-2009, 07:08 PM

Can I fire up my generators to keep ispy running?

Doing alright tas?

**H2FC** · 03-28-2009, 07:12 PM

I'll be supporting that cause as well tas....thanks for the post.

PS...I just found this story...very interesting...

Obama calls major economies climate change meeting...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/wa...hange_meeting/

**draggar** · 03-28-2009, 07:19 PM

My lights are off most of the time, it's just the glow of a TV or the monitor.

But - all of my light bulbs are the "energy efficient" ones (where possible).

I will pull out my crank powered lantern, though, in case I do need light.

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Gear-LL01...8286179&sr=8-4

(Hurricane supplies)

**Acro** · 03-28-2009, 07:25 PM

My PC consumes 1kwh for the power supply alone. People should get used to less power consumption. Turn your lights off EVERY time you don't use a specific room. Unplug all devices that eat up power when at standby.

**tas38** · 03-28-2009, 07:31 PM

I turned off all the lights just now, and sitting in the dark and my flush lights beside me. I agree we need to shut them off when not in use, it's kind of fun sitting in the dark.

I'm doing ok, I get my spinal operation in sept some time.

**south** · 03-28-2009, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by tas38

I turned off all the lights just now, and sitting in the dark and my flush lights beside me. I agree we need to shut them off when not in use, it's kind of fun sitting in the dark.

I b*tch at the kids whenever I find a light on for no reason

It was ground into me when I was young...

PHP Code:

 Im doing ok, I get my spinal operation in sept some time.

Cool. Keep us informed.

Scott

edit: I'll try to do it, but got a bunch of teenagers over tonight (kids friends). Really don't need to have the girls & boys in the dark for too long..

**draggar** · 03-28-2009, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Acro

My PC consumes 1kwh for the power supply alone. People should get used to less power consumption. Turn your lights off EVERY time you don't use a specific room. Unplug all devices that eat up power when at standby.

All the electrical lights are off in my house (thank god my wife isn't home). I also agree, it's the simple things that can make a difference.

My wife is notorious for leaving things on - lights all over the house, the TV (she'll leave and leave it on - I've been known to call her and ask if she's done watching TV).

Another thing that can help your electric bill - re-wire with thicker wire. For the non-electrical geeks - you lose a lot of electricity though the resistance in your wiring (in the form of heat) - you don't even get to use a large percentage of the electricity coming into your house.

R (resistance) = p (specific resistance) * (l (length) / A (cross sectional area))

A = pi * r^2

R = p*(l / (pi*(r^2)))

The larger r (radius) is, the amount resistance will go down exponentially.

Also, if the wires are too long, it will also add to the resistance.

Edit: I lied - my patio light is on but that's because my wife might be home soon and she cannot see in the dark at all, plus I'm sure there will be a small spike in crime tonight because of this.

**ARMG** · 03-28-2009, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by draggar

All the electrical lights are off in my house (thank god my wife isn't home). I also agree, it's the simple things that can make a difference.

My wife is notorious for leaving things on - lights all over the house, the TV (she'll leave and leave it on - I've been known to call her and ask if she's done watching TV).

Another thing that can help your electric bill - re-wire with thicker wire. For the non-electrical geeks - you lose a lot of electricity though the resistance in your wiring (in the form of heat) - you don't even get to use a large percentage of the electricity coming into your house.

R (resistance) = p (specific resistance) * (l (length) / A (cross sectional area))

A = pi * r^2

R = p*(l / (pi*(r^2)))

The larger r (radius) is, the amount resistance will go down exponentially.

Also, if the wires are too long, it will also add to the resistance.

Edit: I lied - my patio light is on but that's because my wife might be home soon and she cannot see in the dark at all, plus I'm sure there will be a small spike in crime tonight because of this.

Haha draggar I thought after high school I wouldn't see those formulas ever again! Thanks for remembering how much I disliked my science lessons

.

**tas38** · 03-28-2009, 08:03 PM

Oh boy draggar, now you'll have me looking into rewiring my house.

**draggar** · 03-28-2009, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by ARMG

Haha draggar I thought after high school I wouldn't see those formulas ever again! Thanks for remembering how much I disliked my science lessons

.

I need to do something with my two degrees in electronics.

Originally Posted by tas38

Oh boy draggar, now you'll have me looking into rewiring my house.

It isn't cheap. Look up the prices of 00 gauge shielded wire...

Even though your electric bill may be reduced by at least 50%-60%, it would take many years for it to pay for itself.

**Johnn** · 03-28-2009, 09:02 PM

I turned everything off and I can't post!

**draggar** · 03-28-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by Johnn

I turned everything off and I can't post!

Then how did you post that??

**Johnn** · 03-28-2009, 09:03 PM

I have to turned them on so I can post and let you guys know that I did turn them off.

**tas38** · 03-28-2009, 09:06 PM

He may be on a back up system, come to think of it using a back up could save on usage as well. By not having so many, jumps in power voltage.

**draggar** · 03-29-2009, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by tas38

He may be on a back up system, come to think of it using a back up could save on usage as well. By not having so many, jumps in power voltage.

Just hook a capacitor in parallel with your incoming lines. Now, the size capacitor you'd need to change (unless the technology has changed a lot in the past ten years but from what I've seen, it hasn't) would be the size of a large shed or small house.

But - connecting a capacitor like that would severely decrease power spikes a lot (I'm sure this is how many cheaper "surge protectors" work). It will help protect you from the little / medium stuff but if something big happens - it won't help. (Plus the costs!).

That's one heck of a tazer!!

**Donald Aquilano** · 03-29-2009, 08:52 AM

Trying to save the planet is a foolhardy idea. Try spending your time more constructively like buying and selling domains.

**acesfull** · 03-29-2009, 12:01 PM

Try telling Las Vegas to turn off their lights.

**tas38** · 03-29-2009, 12:17 PM

Not trying to save our earth is like not changing your auto oil, or not stopping when it starts over heating. Or not stopping when the trans starts to slip, then blame the auto dealer or auto shop for it being burned up, after being pushed till it just would not go anymore.