I don't care how hot Erin Esurance is, I'm keeping the lights on.

doesn't using flashlights defeat the point stupid article writer?

No.

I'm going down to unplug Grandma tonight at the ICU.

Beat that, energy hogs!

Yes subby, it's stupid to conserve energy.

/moron.

This is why no one takes environmentalism seriously.

I'm gonna cut the female end off of an extension cord and then plug it in. Just think of how much electricity will leak out of it!

My laptop has way more battery life than that, so I can feel smug and be a douche at the same time as saving the planet.

This is the 2009 equivalent of not buying gas one day a week and somehow putting Exxon/Mobil out of business.

Should we still be wearing our LIVE STRONG rubber wrist bands while this is going on? Or is that passé?

This is just as stupid and pointless as those don't buy gas on a certain day ideas. What do you morons think will happen when you turn all your shiat back on? Certainly not increased load and demand for electricity.

I'm going to put caps on all the outlets in my house for an hour tonight to stop the electricity leaking out onto the floor.

I'm tuning in for live coverage of this event on my 46" flat screen with the Dolby surround-sound, baby.

Even money that the CNN logo will be green tonight. The irony is palpable.

siiiigh.

The "don't buy gas on Tuesday" nonsense was retarded because it wasn't "don't USE gas on Tuesday". If it had been, it might have been more effective. This idea- while really a drop in the bucket- is a don't USE electricity.

/every kid should know how to entertain themselves w/o electricity
//grew up in NH

Basketball jones. Sorry

I'm turning off all the life support systems in the local hospital as a show of support.

Just be mindful of how you use electricity. That would be more effective.

It's symbolic, you asshats.

Jaboobinator: It's symbolic, you asshats.

It's like that "Hands Across America" thing, that did so much for the um

What was that for, again?

It's my birthday today (celebrating next week) and I'll be damned if I'm not going to run my 500+ watt gaming machine. I could chill in candle light though, it's something I already do from time to time.

DarthBrooks: What was that for, again?

I don't remember. I think it might be a little easier to recall why you turned all of the lights off though.

Jaboobinator: I think it might be a little easier to recall why you turned all of the lights off though.

True - next July, when the A/C is cranked up, I'll be able to say I've *already* saved the Earth.

What a really enlightening plan.

Why would you have nonessential lights and appliances on to begin with? It drives me nuts when there's an empty room with the lights on.

Just be mindful, people. That's all!

These "environmentalists" are really just Luddites in Earth's clothing.

DarthBrooks: It's like that "Hands Across America" thing, that did so much for the um

What was that for, again?

It was for spreading germs from one coast to the other. Just think of how many people diddled themselves, didn't wash their hands and then held hands with who knows how many other people.

Jaboobinator: I don't remember. I think it might be a little easier to recall why you turned all of the lights off though.

I don't agree with DarthBrooks a lot.

But he's right. Most symbolic gestures are stupid, feel good shiat that doesn't have any effect in the long run.

A "Replace with CFL" day would be much more meaningful than a symbolic hour that accomplishes the same thing as going to bed an hour early or simply leaving the house.

slobarnuts: But he's right. Most symbolic gestures are stupid, feel good shiat that doesn't have any effect in the long run.

A "Replace with CFL" day would be much more meaningful than a symbolic hour that accomplishes the same thing as going to bed an hour early or simply leaving the house.

Maybe so, but I think this type of event keeps climate change and conservation in the public consciousness, which is ultimately positive, even if you find the event itself hokey. Ideally it will lead a few more people to make changes that are more substantive and less symbolic.

Jaboobinator: It's symbolic, you asshats.

Yes, that's exactly the problem: it's going out of your way to pretend that you're doing something while actually doing nothing, which is worse than simply doing nothing.

slobarnuts: A "Replace with CFL" day would be much more meaningful than a symbolic hour that accomplishes the same thing as going to bed an hour early or simply leaving the house.

Yes, very much so. Or something like "insulate your living space day" or "take your hazmat trash to people who know how to dispose of it properly day."

I could get behind something like that. But this "let's turn off the lights and feel good about it day" just doesn't quite fit the profile.

We got an email about this at work yesterday. They suggested watching TV with the lights out.

/Company has "electric" in their name

what_now: Yes subby, it's stupid to conserve energy.

/moron.

No it is stupid to make pointless statements and pretend you are conserving energy. Why be an attention whore and 'show' people what a good little energy conservationsist you are for one hour on a weekend when you probably are not home anyway.

Why not turn out the lights when you leave a room, wash only full loads in the washing machine, and line dry when possible. Hand wash dishes when you only have a few rather than running the dishwasher.

Why not turn the thermostat down on the water heater or get an instant tankless model when you have to replace it. Why not put televisions and monitors and other things with a standby function on a power strip so you can actually turn them off when they are not needed rather than having them suck up electricity in standby mode.

Why not do any of these things consistently?

Or would you rather just sit at home in the dark stroking your wang for an hour making a statement, and then resume your normal energy wasting ways Al Gore?

Jaboobinator: slobarnuts: But he's right. Most symbolic gestures are stupid, feel good shiat that doesn't have any effect in the long run.

A "Replace with CFL" day would be much more meaningful than a symbolic hour that accomplishes the same thing as going to bed an hour early or simply leaving the house.

Maybe so, but I think this type of event keeps climate change and conservation in the public consciousness, which is ultimately positive, even if you find the event itself hokey. Ideally it will lead a few more people to make changes that are more substantive and less symbolic.

Conservation sure? But climate change? There is no proof that climate change is influenced by the actions of man.

Conservation is good, and frugal. Climate change happens.

I saw a commercial about saving electricity by unplugging your phone charger. WTF

I save electricity by charging my phone at work.

I lost my power for 6 days this last winter during an ice storm.
I ain't turning off shiat. I get a pass on this one.

Oh subby, you edgy counterculture bastard you!

Way to stick it to the man!

Still, watch your attitude when you get to high-school in a year or two. Sometimes the big kids can be bullies.

I'm at work right now, but i'll make sure to go turn on some extra lights in the conference rooms tonight.

Dupa: I'll be posting in small letters all day to conserve pixels and the energy it takes to create them.

/sorry if this post was longer than needed to be, I know that is just wasteful
//damn, that slashie used unneeded energy
///see, now that wasted energy too, sorry
////shiat, I feel this whole post is counter-productive
//conserve pixels, save the world, folks



I'll be posting in great big letters, but all in white.

Top that.

I'm going to unplug the wireless router in the chicken coup.

Honestly, I don't even think they use it.

It's a new form of demographic polling. They figure out which of the houses that contain the hippies. Get ready for more junk mail and telemarketers!

/sheep

All my lightbulbs are CFCs or florescent tubes. My TV is a projection, which uses less energy than a tube or plasma. My monitors are LCDs. I keep my AC and my heat several degrees above or below 70 respectively. My stove and oven are gas. I buy high Energy Star rated appliances. I recycle my junk mail, Sunday paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum. I take public transportation or walk everywhere I go.

I am not turning my farking lights off for an hour because it's not going to do a goddamn thing. It's a way for neo-hippies to feel better about themselves next time they drive their SUV an extra fifteen miles passing up two dozen local and chain grocery stores so they can go to Whole Foods for organic free range "locally grown" food. In fact, my computer's going to be running double-time so I can take advantage of fewer people on the hubs and faster download speeds since I live in Austin and people here eat this kind of bullshiat up.

If you think this is actually going to do anything for the environment, you're stupid. If you think this is going to do anything in the sense of a protest, you're an even bigger moron. I figure maybe one person in a hundred is actually going to do this, while one in twenty is going to brag about how they did it.

feckingmorons: No it is stupid to make pointless statements and pretend you are conserving energy. Why be an attention whore and 'show' people what a good little energy conservationsist you are for one hour on a weekend when you probably are not home anyway.

Why not turn out the lights when you leave a room, wash only full loads in the washing machine, and line dry when possible. Hand wash dishes when you only have a few rather than running the dishwasher.

Why not turn the thermostat down on the water heater or get an instant tankless model when you have to replace it. Why not put televisions and monitors and other things with a standby function on a power strip so you can actually turn them off when they are not needed rather than having them suck up electricity in standby mode.

Why not do any of these things consistently?

Well, I rent, so I can't do anything about the Water heater, but other than that I *do* all of this stuff.

Look, I grew up poor. We grew our own food, had a wood stove, and had to plan out showers so we could turn the water heater on for 15 mintues.

Most people I know don't have ANY idea how much electricity an air conditioner uses. They couldn't light a wood stove to save their lives (literally). They don't know what a pressure cooker is.

I refuse to live the way I did. But I sure as hell know how to, and that a skill more people could use.

/come see me after the zombie Apocalypse.

Abstruse: All my lightbulbs are CFCs or florescent tubes. My TV is a projection, which uses less energy than a tube or plasma. My monitors are LCDs. I keep my AC and my heat several degrees above or below 70 respectively. My stove and oven are gas. I buy high Energy Star rated appliances. I recycle my junk mail, Sunday paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum. I take public transportation or walk everywhere I go.

Jeebus man if you pissed beer and could smoke your own pole you would never have to leave the house.

Abstruse: If you think this is actually going to do anything for the environment, you're stupid. If you think this is going to do anything in the sense of a protest, you're an even bigger moron. I figure maybe one person in a hundred is actually going to do this, while one in twenty is going to brag about how they did it.

All of the electricity in my house will be off tonight from about 6:30 to..say midnight when I stumble home.

But this *could* be good. Not if they did it once a year, but if they did this once a WEEK.

Abstruse: I keep my AC and my heat several degrees above or below 70 respectively.

nope you are just a hypocrit
1) NEVER USE YOUR AC, EVER, PERIOD
that will save tons more plant crap than your candy ass current schedule
2) NEVER USE THE HEAT, except to keep your pipes from freezing
wear your coat and gloves in the house
sleep in a sleeping bad

/oh wait, you dont want to REALLY help, you just want to be smug

/for those of us turning on all our extra lights and what not, I got an additional thing to do
/go turn all the water on in your house, let it run down the drain, hell go crazy and make it the HOT water
/sick and tired of the religious zealots trying to get us to "SAVE THE PLANET"

what_now: feckingmorons: No it is stupid to make pointless statements and pretend you are conserving energy. Why be an attention whore and 'show' people what a good little energy conservationsist you are for one hour on a weekend when you probably are not home anyway.

Why not turn out the lights when you leave a room, wash only full loads in the washing machine, and line dry when possible. Hand wash dishes when you only have a few rather than running the dishwasher.

Why not turn the thermostat down on the water heater or get an instant tankless model when you have to replace it. Why not put televisions and monitors and other things with a standby function on a power strip so you can actually turn them off when they are not needed rather than having them suck up electricity in standby mode.

Why not do any of these things consistently?

Well, I rent, so I can't do anything about the Water heater, but other than that I *do* all of this stuff.

Look, I grew up poor. We grew our own food, had a wood stove, and had to plan out showers so we could turn the water heater on for 15 mintues.

Most people I know don't have ANY idea how much electricity an air conditioner uses. They couldn't light a wood stove to save their lives (literally). They don't know what a pressure cooker is.

I refuse to live the way I did. But I sure as hell know how to, and that a skill more people could use.

/come see me after the zombie Apocalypse.

You don't have your own water heater? Get out the screwdriver, take off the little door and lower the thermostat. That will save more energy than sitting in the dark for an hour.

I didn't grow up poor,but I know how to do all that stuff and I can light a Franklin stove.

That is why I am not poor now, sure the economy has sucked half of my retirement savings away on paper, but it will return by the time I retire and I will still be using a fan and keeping the AC at 77 F. Heating and cooling takes much more energy than blowing some air around.

Live wisely and you don't have to make foolish statments like this.

namatad: Abstruse: I keep my AC and my heat several degrees above or below 70 respectively.

nope you are just a hypocrit
1) NEVER USE YOUR AC, EVER, PERIOD
that will save tons more plant crap than your candy ass current schedule
2) NEVER USE THE HEAT, except to keep your pipes from freezing
wear your coat and gloves in the house
sleep in a sleeping bad

/oh wait, you dont want to REALLY help, you just want to be smug

/for those of us turning on all our extra lights and what not, I got an additional thing to do
/go turn all the water on in your house, let it run down the drain, hell go crazy and make it the HOT water
/sick and tired of the religious zealots trying to get us to "SAVE THE PLANET"

Dude, did you read what I said? I think this whole "turn off your lights" thing is farking retarded. I do my part within my own tolerance levels for comfort and convenience to do the right thing. But if you think I'm not going to use my AC in a Texas summer, you are more retarded than these people.

feckingmorons: You don't have your own water heater? Get out the screwdriver, take off the little door and lower the thermostat.

I don't think my landlord, or the other people who share the water heater, would be cool with that. When I buy my own house (which is gonna take a little bit longer, as my assets are...injured), I'll do some research into energy saving water heaters.

Abstruse: to do the right thing

thats the problem with THEM and YOU
you try to do the right thing

do it to save your MONEY, that is mkay

but doing it to save the planet?
that asserts that these asshats are "right" and that their religion is the right one

you are just a little bit of one of them
are you ok with them FORCING you to be MORE like them?
to have to pay carbon tax on your gas and electricity?
to have to stop eating meat and wearing leather?
cause their religion requires these things
so a little bit like them, gives them more power
and if you think I am exaggerating, take a look at the eco-crap they teach kids in school these days as "FACTS"

sigh
their fundamentalism is no less crazy than any other of the wackjobs
but you have signed up for it being OK

/and fark no, AC in TEXAS should be required by LAW
/and the true believers would ban you from using AC cause it is hurting the planet .... so pick your sides now before they win the damn war

what_now: feckingmorons: You don't have your own water heater? Get out the screwdriver, take off the little door and lower the thermostat.

I don't think my landlord, or the other people who share the water heater, would be cool with that. When I buy my own house (which is gonna take a little bit longer, as my assets are...injured), I'll do some research into energy saving water heaters.

You share a water heater. Is that normal in your part of the world. Do you have to pay for the electricty for it?