Juneau how to save energy? Have an avalanche wipe out your power lines

Ever since an avalanche wiped out the power lines for Alaska's capital a month ago, Juneau "has become a model for energy conservation, with its citizens doing everything from unplugging tumble-driers to regulating airport runway lights," the Independent reports.

The reason: Electricity rates rocketed about 400 percent. So everyone in this city of 31,000 suddenly had a strong incentive to conserve. The public sauna has been closed and the lights have been dimmed at the indoor community pool," notes the New York Times. "At the library, one of the two elevators was shut down after someone figured out it cost 20 cents for each round trip. The thermostat at the convention center was dialed down eight degrees, to 60. The marquee outside is dark.

"Schoolchildren sacrifice Nintendo time and boast at show-and-tell of kilowatts saved. Hotels consult safety regulations to be sure they have not unscrewed too many light bulbs in the hallways. On a recent weekday, all but one of the dozens of television screens on display at the big Fred Meyer store were black — off, that is."

How much has energy usage dropped? Check out these graphs, provided by one of the Fueling Station's fans, senior environmental scientist Christopher McVoy of the South Florida Water Management District, based on figures he got from Alaska Electric Light and Power:

--Craig Pittman

Comments

[Tino]

"Juneau has become a model for energy conservation"

By this reasoning, Myanmar is an energy conversation utopia!