by flit .
Member since:
August 11, 2006

Earth Hour Update - 40 days

February 18, 2008 01:39 PM EST
views: 79 | comments: 21

36,709 people have now signed up to participate in Earth Hour on March 29.... you are one of them, right? Of course you are - I knew that :)

How'd we do on last week's challenge? Water conservation, remember? I saved some water by not letting the water run nonstop while I do dishes ... oh yeah.... and I have this HUGE mountain of laundry that I haven't washed yet... does that count?  Didn't think so... since they will have to get done eventually.

I'm guessing that some of us - me included - won't much care for this week's Toronto Star Earth Hour Challenge, which is to spend one less day in the car than is your norm. Period. (Taking a cab instead of driving doesn't count.) 

I am driving a lot less than usual this week - don't have to do the Sudbury thing because it is a holiday today - but I'm afraid that my 2 extra trips to Barrie this week will pretty much negate most of those savings.

I do ~get~ that driving is a big part of our emmissions - and that we need to at least try to cut down where we can - but there isn't any public transit I could use where I am - and I gots to go where I gots to go.

The one thing I have done - not cuz of Earth Hour, but before - is that I stopped going off campus for lunch when I'm down there... that is mostly because there are more cars than parking spots at our campus - if I leave, I lose my spot and that is annoying.

 

Heard anything about Earth Hour in your local news yet?  
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Comments: 21

James B. Feb 18, 2008, 1:44pm EST
I haven't seen any local news on Earth Hour here yet, though I posted to a St. Louis blogging site. I may have to get more aggressive. Thanks for the updates.

We have very little public transportation, unless you are traveling along certain very specific corridors, so I know how you feel. I use it when I can. Best wishes!
David S. Feb 18, 2008, 1:47pm EST
I wish they'd do the car thing in the not-winter. It's still below 10° here in the morning. As much as I'd like to ride my bike to work (and I do often in the not-winter), that's just too cold for a 40 minute journey.
flit . Feb 18, 2008, 1:50pm EST
the one day without meat challenge from a couple of weeks ago said that producing meat creates way more waste & uses more energy than cars do .... I figure that means I can do that one again instead of this one.
Denise B. Feb 18, 2008, 1:58pm EST
HI flit how are you??
Carrie O. Feb 18, 2008, 1:59pm EST
Thanks for the update Flit. I had no clue producing meat created so much waste and used so much energy. Makes me glad meat is a rare ingredient in our meals. Maybe once a week. About the car thing...I love walking instead of driving when I can. I just get my daughter in the stroller, pack us some drinks and snacks and off we go.
Janet "Jax" B. Feb 18, 2008, 1:59pm EST
That would be nice, but it isn't practical...actually, we will be saving driving time this week, since both kids don't have school today or tomorrow. That means no trip to Scouts...
Timothy S. Feb 18, 2008, 2:00pm EST
Wow, I haen't heard anything about this!



If you like true stories, check out the high school Diaries
Paula P. Feb 18, 2008, 2:36pm EST
I haven't heard of this before, but I'll definitely have to join in on this. Unfortunately, I don't drive here at school, but I should work on using less electricity - I know I do a poor job of that currently.
I love your reminders, Flit! Except for having my computer on almost all the time, I am pretty good! I save water and electricity every chance I get (even unplugging phone chargers when not in use and shutting off night lights. And I rarely drive at all... and encourage my husband to conserve by combining trips and going multiple places at once instead of back and forth...
Grems 'gremlin' Feb 18, 2008, 4:11pm EST
Earth day is a big day.... Cannot give up an hour in the car cause there is no way to get there without driving most of the places I go.
ChrisJerri S. Feb 18, 2008, 4:43pm EST
I tend to stay home a lot or go in with my husband to do errands to save on gas. So, in essence, I've been giving up more than an hour for quite some time.
Kimberly Ripley Feb 18, 2008, 8:26pm EST
I haven't heard anything about this on the local news here or at home in New Hampshire.
Sue * Feb 18, 2008, 10:35pm EST
The only place I'm hearing about Earth Hour is from you! I don't spend an hour a day in the car anyway, so I guess I'm doing my part!
flit . Feb 18, 2008, 11:13pm EST
that is disappointing... it's all over the news here.... most cities & towns in Ontario seem to be jumping in
William Dotani Feb 19, 2008, 4:27am EST
I practice good conservation.
Charli Mills Feb 19, 2008, 11:54pm EST
My daughter is going out of town so that will cut down on our vehicle usage! Actually, she's really good about carpooling. Unfortunately we have a lack of decent mass transit in our area and it is way to cold to bike yet.
I haven't heard one thing on the paper or on the local news about Earth Hour.

I missed last weeks challenge but participated without even knowing, by not taking a shower and only one bath the whole week...: - ) Just kidding. But I have stopped taking showers and only take baths, I've stopped letting the water run when I brush my teeth, use the dishwasher only when it's full and do full loads of laundry.

We've already cut back on our driving. I try to group all my errands close together and plan out my route so there's little excess driving.

I'll try to remember to check in early next week for the new challenge.

Doing great flit.
Barbary Chaapel Feb 22, 2008, 3:56pm EST
Tonight we are car pooling to go to dinner and movie with friends.

Good reminders, flit.
Barb (Gather Site Ferret) Carlson Feb 22, 2008, 5:36pm EST
Okay, it sounds like it's getting down to the wire here ...
Tracey W. Mar 3, 2008, 9:59am EST
Very cool. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I'm all signed up. You know, I was thinking, since they have everyone turning their lights off at the same hour, then the effect will be like flipping switches from one time zone to the next, since 8pm is progressively later or earlier depending on what direction you go from GMT. Cool huh?

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