An open thread

Here's a release from NCWARN addressing the unnecessary brown-outs from the peak days we just experienced. The bottom line is that we have no realistic electricity conservation plan.

NEWS BRIEF

July 27, 2005

Cut Daytime Outdoor Lighting to Protect Public From Brownouts

Businesses Urged to Stop Pouring Electricity “Into the Sewer”

A Statement from NC WARN:

In every North Carolina city today, numerous businesses and public buildings are burning high wattage outdoor lights in the bright sunlight, despite the current heat wave. This is the equivalent of pouring clean water directly into the sewer all day long.

Careless lighting adds to the public safety threat that could leave many people vulnerable to dangerous effects of the heat wave. Such high-heat, high-stress days create prime conditions for failure of the power grid – with brownouts in several state cities yesterday – and potentially entire power plants.

Today, NC WARN members are encouraging businesses to turn their unneeded lights off – from now on. Doing so can make a significant reduction in the current record-breaking demand for power. We also are asking members to send examples of senseless lighting to ncwarn@ncwarn.org.

A stroll down any commercial thoroughfare will reveal many culprits: diners with neon signs competing against the sun; parking lots at “big box” stores fully lit during bright summer days; a dental office with several outdoor bulbs blasting away in vain.

Many building owners burn exterior lights around the clock, saying it's easier than turning them on and off. However, there are simple, inexpensive timers and power cells that allow lighting to be used only when needed. Such devices are sold at most hardware stores; many can be installed in minutes.

In addition to challenging the power grid, wasteful usage throughout the year contributes to air pollution, mercury in fish, global warming, and the potential for new, unnecessary power plants.

The second priority for now is turning off ornamental lighting in the middle of the night. There are many genuine security needs for all-night lighting, but far too much energy is wasted through decorative lighting while most of the public sleeps. Examples include commercial buildings and car dealerships.

Due to the increasingly severe negative impact from unwise energy usage, our society must shift to a conservation ethic, realizing that our actions have direct consequences for our own wellbeing and that of our neighbors. These effects are most acute during a heat wave, but are always present.

However, it may well take local or state requirements to stop careless lighting, the same way many cities now restrict water wastage. Our power supply is a similar essential resource. There are many other ways people can save large amounts of power and money while remaining comfortable, but to stop lighting empty space is among the most basic.

George- I have good news. The route you are talking about already exists! It's TTA route 412/413, which gets you from Southpoint to downtown Chapel Hill in 29 minutes.

Here is the timetable inbound to Chapel Hill.
http://www.gotriangle.org/trip/en/?mm=timetables&sm=&date=20050728&key_1...

If Joan or anybody else is interested in contributing to the TTA/Carrboro service discussion, please email serviceplanning@ridetta.org and I'll make sure to keep you notified of opportunities for input and feedback.

Patrick, thanks.

Now, about the brown-out in Carrboro on Wednesday evening: did a brown-out cause some sort of power pole problem behind Cat's Cradle? Or did that problem contribute to the brown-out? I read a short article in the Herald online, but it was unclear.

While Smith Level is headed towards becoming the Small Business Memorial Freeway (honoring those local businesses displaced by the new Starpoint big-box), Chapel Hill shouldn't feel to jealous. Looks like we'll have a new freeway of our own:

Adding to the existing, half-mile stretch of Mason Farm Road makes sense because the road already exists and there's room for growth, said George Alexiou, a traffic consultant working with the university on its planning process. That stretch of Mason Farm Road has enough buffer to build up to six lanes of traffic if need be, Alexiou said.

"We don't need six lanes, total," he said. "Four lanes are more than adequate. It seems to make sense to take advantage of existing pavement."

The idea Alexiou is kicking around would turn the existing road into a southbound lane. A median would be constructed, and two new lanes would be built heading north to connect the bypass to a point on Manning Drive so motorists would have another option getting in and out of the medical complex.

Maybe it can be named the Steele Thruway?

I believe most of yesterday's BOT presentation should be up a UNC's Community website.

Regal acquired some of Eastern Federal's screens for about $126 million.

Press release on the completion of the transaction.

While the press release stresses Regal's desire for screens, this April article points out

Campbell said 18 of the 22 theaters also come with the property on which they are located.

that some land transfer ed hands.

I wonder if Regal will shed the asset in view of their less than stellar recent financial quarter?

The long and well-lived life of an incredible woman recently ended. Charlotte Adams, one of Chapel Hill's greatest activists for peace and social justice died at the age of 102.

She started the local Women's International League for Peace and Freedom in 1935. She spoke out against racism and was very active in opposition to the Vietnam War. And she was a very friendly and happy person.