Lights Out in HK
Today is a very auspicious day on the Chinese calendar. It's the 8th of the 8th (8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture).
So what did the people of HK do to mark the occasion? At 8 o'clock, people were encouraged to turn their lights out for three minutes, to demonstrate that the people of HK care about air pollution and want the government to do something about reducing it. (Read more here.)
Quite ironic, really, that this post follows the one below.
Surely, though, the energy cost of everyone in HK turning their lights off and then back on again three minutes later would outweigh the benefits that a message of darkness could spread to the government? Isn't that kind of like turning your air-conditioning off for three minutes? I'm not sure this will have been the most effective environmental campaign ever undertaken!
So what did the people of HK do to mark the occasion? At 8 o'clock, people were encouraged to turn their lights out for three minutes, to demonstrate that the people of HK care about air pollution and want the government to do something about reducing it. (Read more here.)
Quite ironic, really, that this post follows the one below.
Surely, though, the energy cost of everyone in HK turning their lights off and then back on again three minutes later would outweigh the benefits that a message of darkness could spread to the government? Isn't that kind of like turning your air-conditioning off for three minutes? I'm not sure this will have been the most effective environmental campaign ever undertaken!
posted by KT @ 8:30 pm
5 Comments:
At 11:02 pm,
Anonymous said…
There is in fact an energy saving with turning off your lights for a period and then back on again (unless done very quickly). It is a myth that less energy is used by keeping lamps running than stopping and starting them again. The starting current of most lamps is typically 1.5-3 times that of normal running. Lamps typically take under a second to strike/start so after three seconds you are in front really. Though if the lamps were arc type such as those used typically used for external building lighting they need several minutes to cool before being restruck again, and then several more minutes to come back up to temperature and maximum efficiency... Guess what I stare at all day? I'm sure you are all the better for it.
At 11:09 pm,
KT said…
Gee thanks, Tom. I feel better already :)
At 4:39 pm,
Steveybabe said…
I recently read that microwaves use up more energy on showing the clock than they do heating up food. Apparently a clock uses less than 1% of a microwave's overall energy consumption (averaged over its life span) but microwaves are idle for more than 99% of their life!!!
Well...its a shame I don't cook all that much!
Thanks to KT for providing the magazine in which I read the above!!
At 4:46 pm,
Anonymous said…
Hey KT, what a sight it would be to actually see ALL those city lights out! Maybe the main power supply switch is being shut off? Good to see you've sparked (haha) the interest of the IT nerds. No offence Tom & Steve. =)
At 10:32 pm,
KT said…
It's interesting to see that this entry has generated the most comments so far of all the entries on my blog!
Oh dear. Goes to show how much influence the IT nerds have in my life! I never thought it would happen! The office must be rubbing off.
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