Why Earth Hour Still Matters

The statistics from 2011's Earth Hour are in, and as far as Toronto is concerned, the results aren't pretty. After reducing power consumption by 15% in 2009 and 10% in 2010, this year saw a meagre 5% drop (Source: Earth Hour may be losing steam).

Personally, I was as unenthused about this year's edition of Earth Hour as the next GTAer apparently was, but largely went along with my wife's efforts to kill the lights on Saturday night, save for one, lowly CFL bulb to read by. When my discouraged spouse asked me why this year's results were so poor, the best I could offer is that fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs couldn't bear to turn off their TVs while the team fought in vain for their playoff lives (her response: "Why bother, the Leafs suck!" Amusing, given her apparent lack of interest in all matters sporting).

That said, a funny thing happened to me while sitting in near total darkness Saturday night as I contemplated the futility of powering down for sixty minutes when so much more needs to be done. I started reflecting on what major changes I could make that would have a greater impact than observing a symbolic Earth Hour event.

On December 15, 2009 I posted the following goals on my blog with a time line of 8-20 months to meet them:

• return to being a one car family
• reduce the amount of mileage driven per week by 50%
• buy carbon offsets for any future flights--if we can’t afford the offsets, then we can’t afford to fly

What's their status 16 months later?

• return to being a one car family: we came close a few months ago, but weren't quite ready to take the final step
• reduce the amount of mileage driven per week by 50%: this one is looking more difficult given how much I enjoy my current work place. My family still has a plan to meet this goal by buying a radically more fuel efficient vehicle, but I'll have to ask for an extension until the end of the year for this goal. [Edit (March 31, 2012): We bought a subcompact car in September that has at least helped us improve our fuel economy by 50%, even if my distance travelled to work has remained the same.]
• buy carbon offsets for any future flights--if we can’t afford the offsets, then we can’t afford to fly: I'm happy to say that we have observed this goal on the two flights we've taken since then. Small steps, but always preferable to inaction. [Edit (March 31, 2012): I've fallen behind a couple flights with this one. At least this year's Earth Hour has reminded me buy some carbon offsets.]

There are other strategies we have in mind, but I won't bore you with all of them here. By taking stock of these goals today, I merely wanted to give a nod to the real value of Earth Hour. Given larger issues like how each country obtains its power supply in light of the radioactive risks of nuclear currently being demonstrated by the Fukushima reactor, it's hard not to wonder if the 20-23 billion Ontario is about to commit to developing more nuclear capacity is the best use of resources (Source: Nuclear second thoughts).

Even if putting a solar panel on every roof in Ontario wouldn't replace the generating capacity for the same price, perhaps a thorium reactor could (Source: Thorium touted as The Answer). I'm talking about policy issues far outside my area of expertise, but as a concerned citizen, I feel the need to express a hope that Earth Hour prompts a meaningful level of reflection in the politicians and bureaucrats who will be making the decisions about our power generating and carbon producing (reducing?) futures.