hi sarah, I wish I would've brought my camera, it was awesome...we live on the coast so it would go from rain to sunny within minutes...and the artist in the sky paints awesome paintings all the time..(((((HUGS)))))

hi Anne, thanks so much for the info, that's it, Earth Hour...

I will look it up and I like the proposal of the converted savings for the council. I have been very fortunate to run into my current friend/client. He is a very deep thinker and when we get together, we bounce off ideas off of each other...

he is also a brilliant man who is self-made...and I am learning a lot from him...



thanks very much for your input, mel...

I think a lot of us truly caring citizens such as yourself do the little things that really make differences. And I think by recycling, by doing our little thing such as changing all our lightbulbs to the energy bulbs help also...

and really, that is all we can do, especially when a lot of us are in pain both physically and mentally and really...we ARE making a difference..

I'll admit, I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew...

yet, the opportunity has presented itself to me...I consider myself lucky...I am in a position where I know someone who is in power to make a difference. He's actually interested in my inputs...

I think we all walk different paths, right or wrong, we have to take a chance sometimes...

this is a chance that currently, I'd like to take...because I felt that if I hadn't gone out for a walk that day, if the electricity hadn't gone out, I would still be sitting infront of the computer sulking...

it opened my eyes that day...it helped brought me out of a rut that I had been in for awhile now...

so, I am going to take advantage of that...

with that said...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I really have been thinking about this for awhile now...

I have looked up how energy is wasted vs how it is being used.

For example (I am going to give out quasi numbers just to make a point and it is not actual figures)

let's say an electric plant is about 30 miles from you. Let's just say that it makes 30 miles of grid line (to make the math easy).

let's say that for every second that you have one light bulb/lightbulb on, 3watts of energy are being used.

However, it took 80 watts of energy for this energy to get to you.

Sure, we only pay for what we use (supposedly) but there are 80 watts being lost...

that 80 watts ARE LOST...

(if any engineers can correct me and give me exact figures, that would be awesome)

lost energy means lost of money...and that's where I think we can save...

one hour...once a week...

and I was thinking only promoting this during the months where it is comfortable.

I wouldn't try this year long especially during summer time, that might create more fire...

I was also thinking of promoting this more along a line of long term vs. fad.

We all know how fad gets caught on and then it just dies...I've seen many ideas that were great and they'd come and go...

what I am thinking is long term...planting a seed into the younger children...

that years from now, when they move somewhere else, and they think about the quality time they have spent with their families sitting by the candle light...that it would make them want to turn off the lights with their kids...

saving energy and spending quality time together...

and it doesn't even have to be lighting up the candle. Perhaps going out for a walk...or whatever activity...

I know, big task...that is why I love the inputs...



thanks everyone...

Bravo bro!!!

One day I was standing on a mountain top with Mr. Las Vegas (Steve Wynn), and we were looking out over some area that was proposed to be a hotel/casino complex.

Before he decided if it was going to go into a written proposal we had the challenge of looking at everything. Everything that we could think of that could go wrong, and all the benefits. We also looked at what it would take to to get the project going, labor, promotions, road widening, dirt removal, or just dirt moved around.

We made a long list of each category, and our proposal was nearly done right there. It was all about selling the idea by showing the benefits, and shooting down the challenges.

Just remember to end on a positive, painting this beautiful picture that the mind can see. I know you have it in ya, and we will be reading about this in the news

hey bro!

thanks a bunch for the input...

I really am pretty shy so I'd rather not see my name in the papers...LOLOL

It is just that I got tired of sitting here being depressed in my little world...

I get inspired when I see folks like you and others here...doing things when you have so much to deal with...

I get inspired by those that I have read about in the news or in the papers....mostl of them always would say, "everyone told me it was impossible" or "I was told this was ridiculous"

but they didn't give up...

I think that's the key...

I want to try this out...as much as I can take it and all I can do, and see what will happen..

thanks a bunch for the tips and the vote of confidence booster!

Wow you sure know how to use an attention grabbing thread title don't you?

Seriously, though, I love your idea. I will have to think on this for a bit to see if I can come up with ideas for you. My neuro keeps telling me that I am not dumber, but just that my brain works slower now. So, I have to wait for the neurons to catch up with me to think of ideas....

No problemo bro!!

You have helped me in my attitude tremendously, and would go as far to guess im not the only one.

I learned that getting others to see your vision is half the battle. So painting that positive beautiful picture will win the hearts of most, and you will see fruition of your dream.

What you are proposing is sooo easy even my grandkids would get into it. Plus it begs to be put in the category of saving the environment, a winning deal there.

That is the very thing that Steve Wynn lives by. Just a few minutes with this man could change your whole outlook on your potential in life.

If you need any help at all jest holler

this is going to be a lump in my throat day...but that's OK...I am known to be sappy....and I don't care... LOL

would LOVE any input, holly. Take your time. If this thing takes a few years I will keep at it....
and you are NOT dumb at all...and a slow brain is like fine wine..it gets better as it slows.

dude, YOU and OTHERS are the ones that have helped me...I am just a clown...LOL

boy, you all are getting me excited...I've been jotting things down left and right...now I just need to put it together....

Ok here is the one idea I came up with on my drive into work this AM:

"No Lights - Family Nights"

The public service announcement shows a man strolling along on a beautiful starry night and you see in all the windows pictures of families sitting together doing things by candle / lantern light - one family is gathered around a piano singing songs togehter, the next family is playing charades in front of a fireplace with a roaring fire, the next family is at their dining room table playing cards or some other game, etc. There is no narration during this part.

Then, the end of the commercial there is a tag line about how "No Lights - Family Nights" are good for the environment and great for family togetherness.

The only problem is don't you need light to see the cards? Or to read the piano music?
I am always so paranoid of having lit candles around kids (and clumsy people like myself)...
But I really like this idea. I would like the city to turn off the streetlights, too, but ours are automatic; they go on and off depending on the available natural light.
We have a "take back the night" night in August, and people turn their outdoor light on and go outside and walk and mingle.
It could be set up similarly...

holly, I love this idea...I am not sure about a commercial in the beginning stage but will definitely mention it...and will definitely credit you if this comes to fruition.

thanks for the support, Deb!

Gauze Pad, *smack (but you've made me smile)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

thanks for all the inputs. We have our grandkids here and we have been very busy....so I haven't really looked into anything yet.

This is what I've come up with so far:

1) find out exactly how much energy is wasted in a one hour period and how much energy IS wasted transferred.

2) come up with a possible percentage of the possible households that are willing to participate. Take that percentage and come up with possible savings for the city.

3) We have town meetings every Tues evening so that would help if I can go at least twice a month to help push this idea.

well, my brain can't think too straight right now...but thanks for the inputs and helping me keeping the dream alive...