waste of time and money
Calgary's Earth Hour effort uses more power, not less
Peter green, and Jamie Komarnicki, Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, March 30, 2008
Though it was lights out in Calgary on Saturday night as many residents joined millions around the world in turning off non-essential lights and appliances for Earth Hour, the numbers indicate otherwise.
This year 15 countries and more than 60 Canadian cities signed on as part of the second annual campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
In Calgary, the Petro-Canada Centre, Bankers Hall and the Calgary Tower all switched off their lights when the clock struck 8 p.m., leaving the downtown skyline uncharacteriscally dim.
While the city's residential and business lights weren't wholly extinguished for Earth Hour on Saturday evening, many Calgarians took part in the event.View Larger Image View Larger Image
While the city's residential and business lights weren't wholly extinguished for Earth Hour on Saturday evening, many Calgarians took part in the event.
Jenelle Schneider
The Calgary Zoo also turned off its lights, as did the Calgary Herald, including its large signs facing Deerfoot Trail. The Herald also gave energy-
efficient light bulbs to staff in the run-up to the worldwide event.
Lights were expected to blink off from St. John's to Vancouver as citizens and businesses took part in an international event organizers hope will serve as a call to action to prevent climate change.
Nelly Furtado took to the stage at a green-powered concert at Toronto City Hall, singing her hit Turn off the Light -- the theme song of the Canadian event. Much of that city's skyline, including the CN Tower, fell dark.
At the Westin Calgary on 4th Avenue S.W., staff dimmed an estimated 800 bulbs of non-essential lighting, leaving the downtown hotel's lobby and lounge bathed in candlelit ambience.
Patrons like Caroleigh Garner of Winnipeg welcomed the event.
"I think it's great and very necessary," said Garner, who sipped on juice with local friend Melanie Old in the hotel restaurant.
"Every little baby step we take is huge towards making global change," Old said. "We have to support it all. Change always starts at the grassroots level."
According to Enmax figures, though, energy consumption increased from 1,050 megawatts at 7:45 p.m. to a peak of 1,060 megawatts 30 minutes later.
That compares with a range of 976 megawatts to 1,023 megawatts at the same times last Saturday.
Enmax spokeswoman Ginette Boulian said there were many factors that could explain the jump, including colder weather.
Following a proposal by Ald. Brian Pincott, the city agreed to turn off municipal building lights not needed for safety reasons.
Pincott said, "It's a way of taking our leadership . . . in the City of Calgary and taking it to the broader community."
It's a good boost for the city's green push, said Pincott, who planned on hosting a candlelit party at his home Saturday evening.
"It's important to show that kind of leadership, and it's important that we stop doing it quietly and we start doing it loudly."
A typical household of four in Calgary uses about two kilowatts of energy per hour on an average evening.
If every Calgarian participated, it's estimated residents could save up to 543,184 kilowatts during Earth Hour, according to Direct Energy.
As for next year, Pincott pledged the event is going to be even bigger and better in Calgary.
"I think we'll really do a big push and really see how far we can take it. I think it'll be very cool if we can have a darkened city for an hour."
The proof of this year's success though, he joked, will be nine months from now.
"It'll be interesting to see if we have a baby boom in nine months. That'll be the real indicator."
jkomarnicki@theherald.canwest.com
© The Calgary Herald 2008
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