The UK's first Energy Saving Day has ended with no noticeable reduction in the country's electricity usage.
E-Day asked people to switch off electrical devices they did not need over a period of 24 hours, with the National Grid monitoring consumption.
It found that electricity usage was almost exactly what would have been expected without E-Day.
The event also received very little publicity, despite having backing from campaign groups such as Greenpeace, Christian Aid and the RSPB, and from major energy companies such as EDF, E.On and Scottish Power.
E-Day did not succeed in cutting the UK's electricity demand
The idea was to demonstrate that numerous small personal actions could make a dent in greenhouse gas emissions.
But, he acknowledged on his website: "E-Day did not succeed in cutting the UK's electricity demand.
"The drop in temperature between Wednesay 27 February and Thursday 28 February probably caused this, as a result of more lights and heating being left on than were originally predicted."
"I will do my best to learn the relevant lessons for next time."
First of all: Hahahahahahahahah ahahahaa hhahah hahahah!!!!!!
Secondly: Told you so.
Thirdly: If you don't believe the government when they tell you that they went to war because Saddam had WMD's (and NOTHING to do with oil), do not believe the same government who tell you that the world is ending. This issue is no longer one for the environmental nuts, it's one that both governments and businesses have put their stake into. This is worrying because (a) governments never admit when they're wrong (b) both governments and businesses dictate how we spend our money (c) it shows that this is no longer an environmental issue. It is no longer an environmental issue because it is something that is now supported by governments and big business. It is now a marketing and sales issue.
There is NO WAY that western, or any civilization is going to cease using cars, plastics, electricity and anything else that makes us content. There is also NO WAY that the global net output of Carbon emmissions are going to decrease. Why? Global rising populations, greater spending power by the consumer and the greater power of big business. Switching to 30, getting energy saving light-bulbs or farting less won't make a difference. In fact, these schemes are sinister methods that the government employ in order to have control over our lives to the smallest degree. Our spending is being directed not by OUR needs but by our governments. When you were told at school not to believe anything on TV, it wasn't an idle imperative. The majority of common people's knowledge of science is now what we are told through ADVERTS. What the hell are pentapeptides? DNAge? That's not fucking possible. Biffidus-Digestivum is a REGISTERED TRADEMARK - it could be anything. Anti-oxidents...oooh - in my day it was called Vitamin C, but I guess that doesn't baffle anyone anymore.
In 2006, China built, on average one coal powered factory A WEEK. And more power to them. Now that us white folks have had to give up our empires, we can keep the developing world down by telling them that while we had the luxury of industrial development while raping their land, they can't as they might inadvertently bring about the end of the world. No, we can give them solar panels and other patronizing and quaint gifts while we wonder why - fuck me, it was cold two months ago, and now it's heating up! Global warming! Run for your lives! Winter was NEVER this hot. Summer was NEVER this cold (last year everyone said summer was rubbish and mild - somehow forgetting the record braking previous summer). Have people forgotton we live in Britain? We are world famous for having fucked up weather. And besides, Climate Change (another convenient phrase that says nothing because that is exactly what climate does) cannot be measured within one person's life time. So don't say 'winter's we're colder when I was young' because that's probably because you were a kid when things seemed colder and the snow seemed deeper. If you wanna help the world, give to Africa. If you want to waste YOU WHOLE LIFE continue being a gimp and do as the commercials tell you.
2008-02-29 @ 16:07