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France Will Dim Its Lights to Conserve Energy (pull the plug at 1am)
NY Times ^ | 1/30/13 | MAÏA de la BAUME

Posted on 01/31/2013 4:32:04 PM PST by Libloather

**SNIP**

Under the new law, the interior lights of nonresidential buildings will have to be turned off an hour after the last worker leaves, and lights on building facades and in shop windows will have to be extinguished by 1 a.m.

Ms. Batho also presented the decree as a matter of public health. Artificial lighting can damage sleep patterns, she said, and also “cause significant disruptions on ecosystems by changing communication between species, migrations, reproduction cycles or even the prey-predator relationships.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: conserve; energy; france; francelights; lights
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To: zeebee
And astronomers!

If its worth saying once its worth saying four times.

Just joking. I have done it myself.

And I love looking at the stars myself. I wish I lived in a more rural area. The light pollution here is not terrible but it does wash out the Milky Way.

21 posted on 01/31/2013 5:52:21 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Cyber Liberty
It sure is a good thing they don’t have any crime there at night.

The sandrats, like all other rats, simply LOVE the dark.

(But only when living in civilized, non-muslim foreign countries.)

22 posted on 01/31/2013 6:06:21 PM PST by publius911 (Look for the Union Label -- then buy something else)
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To: Libloather

Shouldn’t be that tough, seems like most of France is pretty dim anyway.


23 posted on 01/31/2013 6:26:01 PM PST by RetiredTexasVet
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To: Pontiac

Like I said, you OBVIOUSLY know this stuff better than me. So, thanks. My thoughts were in the right place, but I needed someone who knows the business to help me out.

Bottom line - it is silly for France, of all countries, to be doing this stunt.


24 posted on 01/31/2013 6:31:10 PM PST by BobL
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To: publius911

I was not aware criminals can see in the dark any better than law-abiding persons.

So the burglars flashlights should reveal their presence.

As for turning off the lights in a room with no occupants that is something many were taught as children.

And pray tell,what reasonable purpose is served by leaving business signs on when there is no one around?

I don’t advocate getting rid of street or safety lighting,but designing the lights so the illumination goes where it is need and ONLY where it is wanted is a good thing.

Further I suspect the heating and air conditioning loads are an order of magnitude greater than the lights that will be turned off so ther actual impact on the power structure should be minimal.Lighting is usually taken to be about one-tenth or less of the total load.The businesses shutting off production machinery or restaraunt cookstoves is a bigger spike in usage.


25 posted on 01/31/2013 6:33:01 PM PST by hoosierham (Freedom isn't free)
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To: BobL
I needed someone who knows the business to help me out.

Yes you were right. Got a few terms wrong but the concept right.

Last I know of France was about had an 80% nuclear power electric grid. So they may be able to run in the off peak hours with out backing the nukes down. They can coast down some coal or gas fired plants.

RightOnTheBorder says in #4 that France is a power exporter so that also gives them an out let to avoid lowering the nukes out put.

The law doesn’t make sense to me on a number of levels (personal freedom first and formost) but it probably won’t effect the operation of the nukes.

26 posted on 01/31/2013 6:57:58 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Libloather
She says it's a matter of public health because artificial lighting can damage sleep patterns. Do the people sleep in the nonresidential buildings? Strange excuses I'm thinking and the police will be busier too.
27 posted on 01/31/2013 7:06:16 PM PST by potlatch
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To: Pontiac

Thanks...we both agree that this is simply a silly stunt, but as you say, if they’re careful, they won’t put their power plants at risk.


28 posted on 01/31/2013 8:02:01 PM PST by BobL
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To: BobL
Thanks...we both agree that this is simply a silly stunt,

More than anything else it is a gift to the environmental and animal rights lobbies.

Got to keep the coalition happy if you want to avoid those nasty no confidence votes away.

29 posted on 01/31/2013 8:14:19 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: BobL

Will they have block wardens like in WW II, going around on bicycles to check everything.


30 posted on 01/31/2013 8:17:16 PM PST by Ciexyz
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To: Pontiac; BobL
Enjoyed both your posts. This no lights at night strikes me a very silly. It's more trouble and expense shutting power plants down then just running them 24/7. Particularly nuke plants. I guess natural gas would the the easiest to turn on and off but I'll bet the boiler will not like that much.
31 posted on 01/31/2013 8:37:14 PM PST by jpsb
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To: jpsb
Thanks

You are correct no boiler likes any sudden change in operating temperature and pressure. The stresses are huge and can cause ruptured tubes, pipes and occasionally the change in EM fields can cause transformers to explode.

You seem to be well informed. The new gas turbine generators are the best for handling changes in load.

However the newest and most efficient are called Combined Cycle Gas Plant. They link a boiler on to the exhaust of a Gas Turbine Generator. That hot gas exhaust boils water that turns another steam turbine generator. These plants make pretty much the cheapest electric power available.

32 posted on 01/31/2013 10:59:26 PM PST by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Libloather

Under socialism, the city of light goes dark.


33 posted on 02/01/2013 4:16:44 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Libloather
Turn out the lights, the party's over
34 posted on 02/01/2013 4:44:05 AM PST by Bratch
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