http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141295777Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:29 PM
Star Member Judi Lynn (99,396 posts)
US Christmas lights use more energy than entire countries
Source: Agence France-Presse
US Christmas lights use more energy than entire countries
December 23, 2015
American household Christmas lights, a favorite holiday tradition, use up more electricity than some poorer countries—such as El Salvador or Ethiopia—do in a year.
Bright lights strung on American trees, rooftops and lawns account for 6.63 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year, according to a recent blog post by the Center for Global Development.
That's more than the national electricity consumption of many developing countries. El Salvador for one, uses 5.35 billion kilowatt hours, while Ethiopia consumes 5.30 billion and Tanzania 4.81 billion.
The researchers, Todd Moss and Priscilla Agyapong, used data from a 2008 US Department of Energy report and the World Bank to carry out their research.
Read more: http://phys.org/news/2015-12-christmas-energy-entire-countries.html#jCp
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:35 PM
Star Member KentuckyWoman (852 posts)
1. I wonder
how much electricity the DU burns up in a year.
Between all the servers and connected devices.....
Yes, but that's for the "cause". Never you mind that.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 10:13 PM
Star Member Judi Lynn (99,396 posts)
15. Could be, if we didn't come to DU we'd be driving our hot cars around, cruising, hangin' out,
doing street racing, attending truck pulling contests, burning up far MORE energy than you could shake a stick at!
Or maybe not.
The trolls would be out burning crosses, of course, desecrating ethnic religious buildings, and peeping in windows, etc.
A tepid cave shoutout.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:43 PM
xfundy (4,928 posts)
3. L.E.D. lights?
I've been told they use only 7cents a year. Was I lied to? (Wouldn't be the first time.)
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:49 PM
msongs (38,114 posts)
4. beats spending that $$ on those pesky poor, hungry, and/or homeless people nt
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:50 PM
PSPS (5,711 posts)
5. What a silly article
El Salvador has 6 million people and 93% electrification.
Ethiopia has 93 million people and 26% electrification.
Tanzania has 49 million people and 15% electrification.
So, what is this silly article supposed to tell people? Are people in the US supposed to feel "guilty" because they put up christmas lights?
I believe that was the whole point of the thread, yes. You guys buy, sell, and trade in guilt.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 09:13 PM
Star Member snappyturtle (14,543 posts)
8. Bingo! I will NOT feel guilty about Christmas lights. I binge at
Christmas-time. Love it. I friend of mine in an old western suburb of Chicago went out last weekend to view the lights. She has lived in the same location for 51 years and has never seen as many lights as this year! Spending is down in buying Christmas presents but maybe people are more willing to spend some on lighting. I think it's great.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 11:17 PM
cantbeserious (10,012 posts)
20. Riddle Us This - Why Should Americans Get A Pass On Climate Change Inducing Sparkling Lights
eom
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 11:09 AM
Star Member snappyturtle (14,543 posts)
30. Nope...not feeling guilty. I use all LED and have recycled everything the
recycle center takes for 25 years. I drive less than 1200 miles ANNUALLY. I can't make my footprint any smaller.
Have to ask how you feel about the White House Christmas display? or the MIC? or the excessive travel of politicians? Sparkling lights make me feel good....damn few things do that for me these days. My <30 day use of lights is not troublesome to me.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 10:17 PM
Star Member Judi Lynn (99,396 posts)
17. Maybe the stupid journalist was thinking in terms of energy used for non-essential purposes.
It's pretty likely there isn't a lot of money spent for things like this in poor countries, even if they were able to get electricity everywhere. They still couldn't possibly afford it.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:51 PM
LeftyMom (48,185 posts)
7. With the LED lights on I don't need the porch and walkway lights.
I'm sure it amounts to about the same usage as having those on in the evenings the rest of the year. I can't really avoid some sort of outdoor lighting, I have a weird walkway and I don't want somebody wandering off of it and hurting themselves or squashing my landscaping.
I leave my lights on so the homeless don't fall off the sidewalk, too.
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 09:48 PM
Star Member LiberalElite (10,177 posts)
13. I have two strings of lights outside and I donate to an organization that.
among other projects, provides solar powered flashlights to people in the Third World. It's called Sourcepoint Global Outreach. Check out the photos that show people who are absolutely thrilled to receive these flashlights. It's life changing for them.
http://sourcepointglobaloutreach.org/how-you-can-help/
A flashlight in every pot!
Wed Dec 23, 2015, 09:59 PM
Star Member Duckhunter935 (10,854 posts)
14. switched to all led
Look better and much less lectricity
I only decorate with C9 bulbs
because they use gobs of electricity,
and they look better than those fruity glowing LED lights.
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 12:38 AM
GGJohn (8,437 posts)
23. Yeah? So what?
The only primitive worth having a cup of coffee with chimes in, GGJohn.
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 05:21 AM
Star Member Nihil (13,055 posts)
24. That's basically how the US acts about climate change too.
Maybe the point of the OP is that it is pathetic how much electricity (= money = resources = pollution)
is regularly wasted by the privileged few on such a trivial & pointless purpose ...?
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 07:46 AM
GGJohn (8,437 posts)
25. Only the privileged few put up Christmas lights?
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 08:17 AM
Star Member Nihil (13,055 posts)
26. Comparatively speaking (i.e., with reference to the OP article), yes. (n/t)
Thu Dec 24, 2015, 08:26 AM
GGJohn (8,437 posts)
27. So only Americans put up Christmas lights?
No other citizens in other countries put up Christmas lights?
I do like this primitive.
