Dark Too Soon?

Today, we're using more energy. Daylight savings time ended in almost all of the US yesterday, which means that the lights at home are going to burn an hour more than they did last week. What's that mean for your bottom line?

California studied this very question a few years back and concluded that everyone in California will use, on average, about 3400 megawatts more per day—about .5% of the state's energy use.

So you're unlikely to see a big difference in your bill; saving energy, it seems, makes sense only when you think of it at a macro level.

When did it get dark where you are?

More resources:
• Switch to compact fluorescents to save money on your electric bill
• Try out energy-efficient track lighting to get light just where you need it
• Monitor your home's consumption of electricity with TED...
• ...or use Mr. Sketch for a low-tech way to keep track of energy
image by davidallag via sxc.hu

Comments (2)

I'm based in Boston, where it now starts getting dark at 4 30, with total darkness around 5 30. I don't know why I expected the sun to begin setting later than 4 30, but its quite shocking to get out of work when its completely dark out.

I have found a way to compensate for the increased energy usage, though; cut most of it out ! There are a few days a week when I have the luxury of being home while its light out, so I try to get as much done as I can with the curtains pulled back, letting the precious hours of sunlight in. When it gets dark, I start pulling out the candles-- with a mantle full (ok, so it isn't a mantle, but a shelf behind the tv that kind of resembles one) of soy or beeswax candles, I have sufficient light to sit and read, or enjoy a cup of tea and hang out with my boyfriend. In fact, by keeping the lights off, theres a stronger sense of intimacy and romance, and if anything else, more of an urge to go to bed earlier and catch up on sleep. By no means is it boring, just a different sort of routine. We're trying to keep our t.v. and find other things to do.

...although I imagine that for people who don't have sunshine in their apartment, this might be more difficult to achieve. So, candles ! I'm such a big fan. (my that was wordy !)

I tend to become a "turn off lights you aren't using" nazi.

God, you should see me in the morning getting ready for work in the dark, turning lamps on and off as I enter and leave each room.

For November I'm doing a monthlong media fast, which aside from the entertainment center and wireless router which can all be unplugged, will probably mean a slight increase in energy use as I need more light to read by.