[AZ-Observing] Re: Lights off in downtown for Earth Hour ?? Reports from Fountain Hills and GRCO in Gilbert

Since the World Wildlife Fund Australia's  main idea of this Hour was to 
save on energy use and CO2 emissions, only non-essential lights were turned 
off.  The promoters of dark skies seized the opportunity to illustrate you 
can do the same everyday by not throwing your kwhs into the night sky.  I 
doubt any city would intentionally turn off its street lights for an hour 
but they could shield them and point them down forever. If there hadn't been 
the glitch with getting Heritage Park to turn off the lights, I'm quite 
positive the folks observing from the science center would have seen a real 
difference.  I understand that even Mayor Gordon couldn't get hold of the 
Heritage Park people to remind them.  But hopefully we'll get another try at 
it next year and also hopefully the businesses that did participate realized 
a savings and will now always turn their non-essential lights off.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rotramel, Rick (AZ77)" <rick.rotramel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 10:11 AM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Lights off in downtown for Earth Hour ?? Reports 
from Fountain Hills and GRCO in Gilbert


I had to drive to the airport Sat. night. Around 9:22 PM as I drove past
downtown Phoenix on I-17, most of the high rise buildings looked dark
but had their signs and roof lights still on. Otherwise everything
looked the same. Every street light was on.=20

In my neighborhood just north of Metrocenter, the sky looked the same
during the "Hour". The four fast moving advertisement "search" spot
lights were very distracting trying to judge the sky glow.

Next year, if the city was serious about this thing, all the street
lights would be turned off. Or hey, just leave them off for the entire
night!

Anyway, hurray for all the SAC astronomers who shared the sky at the
Arizona Science Center.

I know most everyone thought this whole thing was silly, but if done
each year, the idea will grow.

Rick R.
SAC

Support the IDA with a tax deductible membership/donation.
http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do


-----Original Message-----

So, despite blunders and the fact that downtown Phoenix is only maybe
1/10th=20
of one percent of  greater Phoenix, the message that came from this
effort=20
was powerful and important--So, PLEASE let's embrace this gift of=20
opportunity to continue the message that You can save energy expense,
use=20
less wattage and less lights, reduce CO2 emissions, AND help bring back
the=20
MilkyWay _everyday_ by simply shielding and pointing your lights down,
and=20
turning them off when they're not needed.

Definitely not a bust.

Jennifer Polakis, VP
Saguaro Astronomy Club=20
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