Earth hour

[twinscythe12332]

oh well, the pool bar I went to definitely wasn't doing the earth hour thing.

[Dave A]

South Africa saved about 400 megawatts during Earth Hour, Eskom said on Sunday.

This meant South Africans switched off a total of 4.7 million 60 watt lightbulbs between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday, as part of a global initiative for action against climate change, said spokesman Fani Zulu.

"This also means one unit of power at each of our small power stations was saved," he said.
full story from IOL here

Not massive, but reasonable I suppose.

[Marq]

I'm still confused on this story...

If Eskom is generating electricity anyway for the day and if you don't use it you lose it - what is actually saved?

[Dave A]

It isn't a case of use it or lose it. Eskom has to balance supply against demand all the time by ramping production up or down.

[Marq]

Yes, I assume they do this....but

I would also imagine that the increase or decrease is a slow affair. So we all switch off the lights now but they (pestkom) are still geared for normal usage - so there is in effect no saving cause its coming down the wire anyway. The coal has already been burned on a usual expected pattern basis.

If there is to be an earth hour, should it not come from the source?
Sort of like load shedding...thats forced earth hours. The rest of the world gave up an hour.....we gave up many hours and many Rands and its rumoured to be starting again come after election time....so why the big fuss down here in sunny SA on this earth hour issue?

We need a better idea than switching off the lights for an hour. We need the technology that the power companies hold back from us as they make us more reliant on earths resources. We need governments to see this picture and we need them to stop the grime and corruption as they defend the power companies and organised crime. We need the powers that count to get involved with solar/wind/sea/free energy ideas and to stop trying to rip of the masses by selling us stuff that should be available to all at reasonable prices anyway.

[duncan drennan]

I would also imagine that the increase or decrease is a slow affair. So we all switch off the lights now but they (pestkom) are still geared for normal usage - so there is in effect no saving cause its coming down the wire anyway. The coal has already been burned on a usual expected pattern basis.

My understanding is that the coal fired stations can react relatively quickly to this type of load change (although turning one from scratch can take days, hence Eskom tends to keep them running).

I don't see Earth Hour as an attempt to achieve a saving, but rather an attempt to achieve two things,

1) Heighten awareness of how we use energy (I think most in SA became acutely aware of this over the past two years, but I still wonder how many have actually taken any kind of action).

2) Create what is effectively a protest action against the way governments are dealing with energy and the use of natural resources. This protest action will hopefully put political pressure on the decision makers at the Copenhagen climate change conference later this year, where replacement policies for the Kyoto protocol will be decided on.

[Dave A]

we gave up many hours and many Rands and its rumoured to be starting again come after election time....

I'm afraid to say that given the rather nasty voltage readings my electricians have been finding, there is pretty good circumstantial evidence to suggest an order has gone out to Eskom that they shalt not loadshed - no matter what.

Gives new meaning to election power. Next time you hear someone whine that their vote is worthless, please give them a slap from me. There's lots of money to be made in low voltage burnouts.

[duncan drennan]

Some cool pictures of Earth Hour [via Urbansprout]

[Dave A]

Some really good support there. I went wandering outside to see if there was a visible difference in my neck of the woods - nothing really noticeable, I'm afraid.

[garthu]

Same here.. we switched our lights off etc, just left a stereo on only. Had a look outside and must say felt very alone