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SF Landmarks Go Dark Sat. To Urge Saving Energy
CBS 5
10/16/07
October 16, 2007 -- In an effort to promote energy efficiency and to fight global warming, several San Francisco landmarks will go dark for an hour Saturday night in what is called "Lights Out San Francisco."
In a test run, the decorative lights on the Bay Bridge went dark Monday night, one section at a time. 600 fixtures, 1,200 energy-efficient light bulbs were switched off in a preview to Saturday's event.
"Lights Out San Francisco" creator Nate Tyler and his team of volunteers have been working to get everyone on board to help stop global warming.
"We're asking people to turn out their lights for one hour, and install one compact fluorescent light bulb. And we believe if you do that, you can actually save quite a large amount of energy here in San Francisco," Tyler said. "Also, It's symbolic, it's important to give something people can they can do that connects them that connects them with other people in the community around them. The solution isn't one person at a time; it's all of us together."
It's catching on. At least half a dozen restaurants will go dark.
"We ordered 400 candle holders," said Medjool Restaurant owner Gus Murad. He'll offer his customers candlelight dinners.
Murad says he won't be saving any money. But he wants to save the world.
"It just amazes me how much the world uses energy," he said, "It's a small token for one night, one hour, two hours…whatever we can do to give back to earth, we should."
Many city landmarks will go dark, including Coit Tower, City Hall, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The Transamerica Pyramid will join in, and organizers hope other high-rises will, too.
"Our goal is that we'll save about 15 percent of the energy consumed on an average Saturday night," said Tyler.
PG & E estimates the city of San Francisco uses 98,000-kilowatt hours of energy in one hour. That's 62 tons of carbon dioxide released into the air.
Organizers say the goal is awareness, not a total blackout of the city. As part of the campaign, they're also giving away 110,000 energy saving fluorescent bulbs.
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