Sunday, April 19, 2009

Earth Hour: Waste of Time

According to the Orrilia Packet, one of the best newspapers from Northern Ontario (ha ha), Earth Hour was a colossal waste of time. Apparently it produced a 'negligible' reduction of Ontario's carbon footprint. Like most hippie plans it was a lot more showy than worthwhile to begin with, but it could have done a load of good for our energy supply.
In the long run this, now, annual event could encourage people to conserve everyday. There are many ways to conserve energy with no impact on our standard of living.
But anyways, the power companies coped with the reduced demand for electricity by reducing the amount of hydroelectric energy produced. Since this is one of the greenest energy sources, though conservationist may not agree, there was no reduction in the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.
How is it that with so many people around the world wanting to participate in Earth Hour, Ontario energy companies didn't respond by reducing their dirtiest energy for the duration?
Shame.

3 comments:

HANNES said...

because they hate the environment is what I think.
maybe the sollution is not just reducing demand but putting it to a complete stand still.—

Unknown said...

the economic consequences of using absolutely no energy would be catastrophic. although i'm somewhat biased having 3 uncles working at Bruce Power. I support nuclear conversion. Then blasting the nuclear waste into other galaxies.

\ said...

I think that space offers the compromise nuclear requires to be widely lauded. It will diminish the nimby mentality of moderates and possibly nullify some of the main arguments from the Grees. It just doesn't seem safe right now. I mean if a shuttle explodes half a dozen people may die. A tragedy, of course, but not to the magnitude of some nuclear waste catastrophe. Solar is probably the power of the future but it is too expensive right now. I think wind also offers a move to a centralized grid where less of the power is lost during the transfer.