Think Blue; You're Not Fooling Anyone

Have you been reading about how you should unplug everything you own - presumably when you are not using it - so you will not waste electricity? Some of it makes a lot of sense: turn off your computer; turn off lights in rooms you are not in; unplug the TV when not in use. I can get behind all of that. But why do I need to unplug my cell phone charger? I hear this one mentioned all the time. But where is the electrical potential that is going to waste electricity? I don't get it. But I do it anyhow.

I don't want to talk about any of that though. I come to you with a new plan to promote being green* and stop wasteful electricity usage: Stop trying to fool me that you are still at work. You probably work with a guy that leaves everyday about 10-30 minutes early all the time. The offender will invariably leave the lights on & computer screen on with an open Excel spreadsheet. It's always a spreadsheet. It all is meant to make it look like he might just have stepped out to use the bathroom. Well, you're not fooling anyone, so could you please turn off the lights and PC and save a kWh or two?

*Why do we call it green? I've never questioned this before, but really there is a heck of lot more blue that we are worried about: the oceans, the sky, those guys that make odd music out of PVC instruments. Plus, the Berkeley hippies already have green. We could start a new movement to be blue and then anyone those that doesn't want to be associated with Berkeley (think Code Pink) can just call themselves blue. Plus if you care to be snotty you could now say, "Well I'm blue, because I care about more of the planet than you do."

Last week I went to go visit a client. Evidently, he likes to get into work late. Who doesn't? I didn't mind at all waiting in his office for five minutes before the start of our meeting. But I didn't know he wasn't there yet. There were three, yup three, monitors actively displaying work like substances, the lights in the office were on, and a radio was playing -- country. So I ask the first guy who walks past if my client is in some other part of the plant. "Nah. He's just not here yet. He gets in late, but he stays late too." Good for him. However, if three monitors, lights, and top 40-esque nasty country music cannot fool a coworker, then give up. Turn the lights off. You'll sleep better at night.

Now go tell all your friends.