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Thread ID: 98445 2009-03-25 06:49:00 So called "Earth Hour" somebody (208) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
759490 2009-03-27 00:18:00 I predict massive fires in the inner city, as people knock over their candles. The resulting fires will produce god knows how much smoke into the atmoshphere... the_bogan (9949)
759491 2009-03-27 00:59:00 I never have anything running I don't need, power is expensive enough as it is. wratterus (105)
759492 2009-03-27 01:24:00 Dont worry guys, McDonalds will be saving the world by turning of its archway lights, meanwhile there open deep fryers and burger grills will be going just as hard. pantera989 (14533)
759493 2009-03-27 01:52:00 Maybe the Greenies could save the planet by getting Sue Bradford to shut the hell up for one Earth Hour. Peterj116 (6762)
759494 2009-03-27 02:27:00 Maybe the Greenies could save the planet by getting Sue Bradford to shut the hell up for one Earth Hour.

Agreed, she produces enough hot air to account for at least a small town.
wratterus (105)
759495 2009-03-27 03:01:00 I think Wheels was talking about natural liquid, ie. water :)

I'm sure he was, but he's ill informed.

We don't spill much water in the North Island. So if energy demand goes down, fossil use goes down.
shermo (12739)
759496 2009-03-27 03:13:00 I'm sure he was, but he's ill informed.

We don't spill much water in the North Island. So if energy demand goes down, fossil use goes down.

Ill-informed? Approximately 70% of electricity generated in New Zealand comes from renewable energy so how is turning off a switch going to make any appreciable difference? Get your own facts right before criticising others.
Wheels (7227)
759497 2009-03-27 04:01:00 Ill-informed? Approximately 70% of electricity generated in New Zealand comes from renewable energy so how is turning off a switch going to make any appreciable difference? Get your own facts right before criticising others.

That 70% figure is a bit out of date, and was accurate before the new CCGT at huntly. For example:
% of renewables in 2008 ~ 61.96 (year to end of September)
% of renewables in 2007 = 66.51.

Anyway, even if generation was 70% renewables, the last 30% of demand is still fossil fueled. Renewable energy is essentially 'free' and fossil fuel is on the margin. If New Zealand reduced its output by 1% over earth hour, that 1% wouldn't be taken equally from renewable sources and fossil fuels. The entire 1% would come from fossil fuels.

However, there are circumstances where you would be correct. If you live in the South Island and it's spring there's a fair chance stored water is being spilled. If this was the case reducing your demand would do nothing to reduce fossil fuel usage, but I posit that since it's April (err March), that's unlikely.

Edit: Since you're in Auckland, I'm going to say that your position is never correct.
shermo (12739)
759498 2009-03-28 07:10:00 Well earth hour is almost upon us and my flatmates are insisting i turn of the computer and come join them in a candle lit game of monopoly pantera989 (14533)
759499 2009-03-28 07:20:00 That 70% figure is a bit out of date, and was accurate before the new CCGT at huntly. For example:
% of renewables in 2008 ~ 61.96 (year to end of September)
% of renewables in 2007 = 66.51.

Anyway, even if generation was 70% renewables, the last 30% of demand is still fossil fueled. Renewable energy is essentially 'free' and fossil fuel is on the margin. If New Zealand reduced its output by 1% over earth hour, that 1% wouldn't be taken equally from renewable sources and fossil fuels. The entire 1% would come from fossil fuels.

However, there are circumstances where you would be correct. If you live in the South Island and it's spring there's a fair chance stored water is being spilled. If this was the case reducing your demand would do nothing to reduce fossil fuel usage, but I posit that since it's April (err March), that's unlikely.

Edit: Since you're in Auckland, I'm going to say that your position is never correct.

Just because they're spilling water doesn't mean that thermal plants aren't being operated. Generators can only output so much power, so once they reach maximum capacity, that's it.
somebody (208)
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