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Living Off the Grid — For A Few Minutes…

By David Fleischer

2007_1_30_lightbulb.jpgDepending where you were when it hit, you probably have fond memories of the Blackout of 2003. At least once you managed to get home and gaze at the stars. Well, here is your chance to live it all over again — for a whole 5 minutes.
Some French treehuggers are asking people all over the world to turn off their lights and electrical appliances at the same time — from 1:55 to 2:00 p.m. here in the GTA — on February 1.
The date was chosen to commemorate the unveiling of the United Nations’ report on global climate change. It’s not about saving electricity per se; it’s about making a statement and getting the attention of The Powers That Be. So if you can, turn it down, shut it off, and chill for five minutes. Heck, you’ll probably be at work anyway, so take a load off and tell your boss you’re saving the planet.

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  • Marc

    I’ve heard that some people here will be doing it at 6:55 PM ET (there’s a big ‘Lights Out’ Facebook group/event, 105000 people big), instead of matching the European time. While I think it makes more sense at 1:55, I guess I’ll just do both.

  • marc

    I don’t understand doing it in the middle of the day… for those of us that work in an office we can’t really do the mid day option

  • Jman

    Alrighty then….. and if enough people participate at the same time, the sudden surge and shifts in demand loads on the hydro grid will fry parts of the system and blow enough components to cause a nice little city wide black-out.
    Hmmm… could that really be their plan?
    Well then, I for one welcome our new candle-lit overlords.

  • Jman

    Actually, if enough people participate at the same time, the sudden surge and shifts in demand loads on the hydro grid will fry parts of the system and blow enough components to cause a nice little city wide black-out.
    Hmmm… could that really be their plan?
    Well then, I for one welcome our new candle-lit overlords.

  • jman

    D’oh! Sent message twice