OBSERVING Earth Day by switching off lights for one hour does not send the right message about saving the environment. It is also not efficient as without lights, that one hour is wasted as no work can be done.
A better way is to promote switching off all air-conditioners for one day. This way, life can go on as usual and no time is wasted. Also, switching off lights for one hour does not save as much energy as switching off air-conditioners.
Offices are usually enclosed, so air-conditioners cannot be switched off totally, but they can be reduced to a minimum. Many public places like shopping centres, offices and Changi Airport have their air-conditioners switched to imitate winter. Much of the time, people wear jackets in offices. I am sure a lot of energy can be saved if the air-conditioners in these places are reduced to a more comfortable level.
Tan Lee Hwang (Ms)
one hour won't make much different unless it's daily.