Am I the only one to find those before and after pictures distinctly underwhelming and not exactly inspiring me to join in? I live alone and by 8.30 on any night the only light on is the low energy bulb in the standard lamp in the sitting room. Even if I sit there in the dark for an hour the TV and Virgin boxes will be still be on, the fridge and freezer and other appliances will still be on - that single low energy bulb is probably the lowest energy usage in the house of an evening. If everywhere really was going to go dark I might join in but the street lights and so much else are still going to be switched on. Wouldn't it be better to try and promote activities that will really cut down on energy use - like never leaving appliances on standby, never leaving chargers switched on when they aren't actually charging something up etc?

I know that I sound like a curmudgeonly moaner but I'm getting rather fed-up of symbolic gestures that seem to not actually change anything.

SM

I think if people take part many will not be like you Sma. They may find they are going around putting lights out in rooms that no-one is in. It may make them think about it. My OH drives me demented as he has lights on before they need to be. It can the middle of the day with light clouds and I can find lights on.

One light for an hour is better than nothing

A town in Devon switched all their lights out in order to see the stars

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16625653

I remember when we worked in East Sussex near the New Forest and the first night we slept there we turned the light off. I'd never felt such 'thick' pitch blackness before, it was quite eerie.

Bypassing any discussion on the merits of the plan, and global warming etc. I just wanted to say that although Fiona wrote

My OH drives me demented as he has lights on before they need to be

please bear in mind that anyone with poor vision/cataracts, or just simply elderly...will need much more light in order to perform normal tasks, than a young/normal-sighted person
(I'm not casting any nasturtiums on Mr Fiona)

and I feel that since our current times are the first time in the history of the world, that we have good lighting available at the click of a switch
that people should not be made to feel guilty about having lights on
by all means have low energy bulbs when you are young and fit but remember that people with poor vision will need good quality light for reading etc.and also for navigating stairways and steps.

A person of 40 years old needs twice as much light as a person of 20, a 60 year old 3x and an 80 year old 4x.
And I do know what I'm talking about

We put lamps on rather than the main light as we prefer the more subtle light. Our ceiling light rarely goes on. My parents do the same.

Would have done my bit , but the lights in my lounge and conservatory are on timers and I'm 4000 miles away !!

Though when they do the turndown service here they switch off all lights and just leave 2 bedside candles flickering , not only romantic but Eco friendly too especially with Caribbean " Smooth " playing on the iPod docking station , despite my ageing eyesight , reading a book is the last thing on my mind