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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Earth Hour a downer as city power use rises

Downtown lights off, but cool weather keeps the heat on

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 03/29/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

JANA CHYTILOVA / CANWEST NEWS SERVICE Paul Kompass is illuminated by a candle at Earth Hour ceremonies in Ottawa. (CNS THE OTTAWA CITIZEN)

It was not our finest hour.

As cities across the globe dimmed their lights in support of Earth Hour late Saturday, the worldwide stand against climate change didn't generate much in Winnipeg except an increased demand for power.

Manitoba Hydro spokeswoman Anita Mitchell confirmed electricity usage actually shot up during Earth Hour, and remained on a steady climb after 8:30 p.m. CT -- the same time Earth Hour supporters in Manitoba were supposed to flick off their lights to conserve energy.

"Turning off a few lights doesn't have the impact as if someone was to shut off their heat," Mitchell said. "I think people could be turning off their lights but there's not a drop in (electricity) usage."

Mitchell suspects the winter chill may have contributed to the spike in power usage, and said the -13 windchill likely prompted Winnipeggers to crank up the thermostat.

"It's been steadily climbing," Mitchell said late Saturday.

Many Winnipeggers and local businesses said they would join more than 2,800 municipalities in 84 countries to mark Earth Hour, a World Wildlife Fund event to encourage people to turn off all non-essential lights for 60 minutes.

Downtown businesses, including those in Canwest Place, The Fairmont, the Bank of Montreal building, Winnipeg Square, the Richardson Building and the RBC Building were asked to turn out all non-essential lights at 8:30 p.m.

Red River College's Princess Street campus went completely dark, and the provincial government dimmed its lights in some buildings.

Toronto's iconic CN Tower slipped into darkness at 8:30 p.m. local time, along with many of the skyscrapers in Toronto's financial district.

However, scattered lights were still visible after in some of the office towers in Canada's largest city.

At ground level, most stores and fast-food joints along Yonge Street, one of Toronto's busiest, were switched on.

Huge crowds gathered at city hall for a free concert in the dark.

About 250 people gathered in Halifax's Grand Parade to watch the mayor turn off the city hall's lights.

Mayor Peter Kelly flipped off the lights on the building.

Kelly admitted he was a little disappointed that nearby office buildings left their lights on.

"We had thought everybody would be part of this process, and unfortunately, they are not," he said, gesturing to a nearby office tower where many lights remained on.

However, Kelly said when cities turn off municipal buildings' lights it "engages the citizens," and helps people feel they're part of a change in energy use across the globe.

"It shows that they care for their children and their grandchildren," he said.

"It gives us a chance to pause and think and consider what we can do for the future."

Nearby, astronomers trained their telescopes on the night sky, hoping to see stars more clearly.

Quinn Smith, a 59-year-old amateur astronomer, said Earth Hour allows him, "a chance at the night sky without the light pollution that's normally present at a city's centre."

In New York City, the Empire State Building was among the landmarks that shut off their lights to signal the need for global support for a new climate treaty.

The United Nations building was one of hundreds in New York City and around the world that went dark Saturday for an hour as part of an international action to highlight climate change.

Sydney, Australia was the first major city to observe the rolling global blackout.

-- The Canadian Press, with files from Winnipeg Free Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 29, 2009 A9

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