This is an interesting idea, to encourage energy conservation, a league of people is pushing for a Lights Out Night.
It was started in Australia, witnessed and borrowed by a San Franciscan, now adopted by a Los Angeles group promoting it here.
On October 20th (this Saturday) they're encouraging all of LA to turn off all non-essential lighting from 8 to 9pm and install one compact fluorescent light bulb.
Seems like a small effort you say?
Here's the conclusion drawn by Sydney's hour of no lights: "2.2 million people participated. Their one hour of lights out meant that 24.86 tons of carbon dioxide were not released into the air - the equivalent of taking 48,613 cars off the road for one hour."
If you hate fluorescent bulbs, you may want to have a look at this Popular Mechanics article comparing the light given off by them, to get one you actually like.
On a personal not, I'm up to 7 replacements in our house (everything not on a dimmer switch) and it really hasn't made a big difference light-wise.
If you're worried about the rumors you've heard about mercury in fluorescent bulbs, well, it's a lot of hooey. Check out the environmental impact reported in Popular Science.
Aren't you glad I said "interesting" and not "bright" idea?
I've got your back.
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