Earth Hour was a hit globally this year. Check the photos from Sydney, or explore the Flickr photos.
Many people opted to light candles, have candle lit dinners, or barbecues, during the black out period, but it seems such activity, no matter how well intentioned, merely served to cancel out the benefits of switching off the lights.
Candles produce more greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants than light bulbs, and barbecues are less efficient than most stoves. Coping with this evening’s expected fluctuations might actually lead to a small rise in greenhouse gas emissions from coal-burning power plants.
For the record, we sat in the dark on the balcony, sans candles and barbecues, and actually managed to spot all five stars of the Southern Cross.
