What would be the impact on climate change and energy consumption, if we made these adjustments

[Skidmore]

in consumption of energy? I remember a time when all shops closed by 7 pm at the latest. No store was open on Sunday, and if open at all, only a half day on Saturday. Store lights were turned off at night and the only lights on in town were the street lights. Now we have box stores lighted up 24 hours a day, and in business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Also there has been a perceived need that electrical signage to advertise a shop is essential. Some of cities are just overwhelming in the amount of lighting to be found in them. I know the incredible amount of light pollution that is made by our urban centers here in rural areas. There also is heat that comes with that light. Would returning to reduced business hours and setting limits on the type of lighting used be a sensible way to reduce energy consumption? To me, it seems reasonable that it would have the additional bonus of pulling traffic off of the streets too and reducing the consumption of gasoline.

What if there were concerted effort to get all towns and cities to review what is going on in this area and to adopt measures to collectively reduce energy consumption of this nature?

[malaise]

1. They had better: From the IPCC draft report

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7098902.stm
<snip>
The IPCC report states that climate change is "unequivocal" and may bring "abrupt and irreversible" impacts.

After a week of arduous talks in Valencia, Spain, the UN panel of scientists agreed the document which says the planet is being driven toward a warmer age at a quickening pace by human activity.

Rising sea levels

The scientists concluded that carbon dioxide emissions are rising faster than they were a decade ago, prompting the panel's chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, to highlight the need to deal with impacts which are coming whether or not global emissions are curbed.

[and-justice-for-all]

2. Nothing to fear, do not panic..

My Pentacostal CoWorker says global warming is a scam and that there are just as many 'scientist' that do not think GW is real as those that think it is. He also tells me that the data in inconclusive..

and also according to my Pentacostal CoWorker The Bible says that in the last days there will many who will love the creation more than the creator and that is where we are today. They piss and moan when a sea creature dies of natural cause and then race to the abortion clinic to get rid of an inconvenient pregnancy.


So do not believe the hype!! trust in jeebus!!!

[taterguy]

3. I favor scaling back lighting used for ads but not scaling back hours of operation

For the simple reason that I don't like advertising in general but I do like being able to shop whenever I want.

I use a bicycle to get work during the week and quite frankly it's a pain in the ass to do much shopping when I'm on my way home from work

My town is trying to make rules about signage and it's costing them a fortune in legal fees responding to suits that claim it's a violation of the First Amendment, which is probably why cities don't do that. They have higher priorities with their limited budgets.

[Skidmore]

4. The land use distict rules for our villages prohibit the use of lighted

signs and it is enforced. Has been challenged in court and the rule has been upheld. Had nothing to do with infringing on free speech but a whole lot to do with putting up signage that was physically did not meet the standards described in the rule. In our villages, the only lights found at night are the street lights and those above doors in people's yards. The latter are turned off at bedtime and people know that it is too late to drop by if the door is dark. You know what? We can see the stars at night.