Our Earth Hour 2009


Lights were out for Earth Hour at our house and we hardly noticed. The beeswax candles did a great job of chasing away the darkness. At first I had the kerosene lamps burning then I thought, that seems a bit wrong since kerosene is a fossil fuel so we blew them out and stuck with the candles. I meant to take a photo of the cupcakes but forgot and by the time the hour was over, they were all devoured !
We made our little statement regarding how we feel about global warming and using up the earths resources. A small thing perhaps, but not when you multiply it by the thousands and thousands who participated.

Comments

We also observed earth hour and when I looked out the window it seemed as though all the other houses in our neighborhood were dark......We do have a sercurity light that works on a light sensor which we were not able to turn off. No one knows how it works or where the switch is! We'll have to check into that....This morning I attended a two hour presentation given by Sr. Sharon Zaydac, sponsored by the CSA I belong to. She was in one of the groups trained by Al Gore and her presentation was excellent. It was called A Faith-Based Perspective on "An Incovenient Truth". Even though so much of the news is so depressing, I am optimistic because I really believe the message is getting out and we are doing things. And God is on the side of this battle, for sure.
Unknown said…
Today, I felt really unsure about doing the right thing.
I never buy paraffin candles, as paraffin is made from the sludge in the bottom of a barrel of oil which gets bleached and texturized with a chemical called acrolein. Acrolein is a known carcinogenic product. Once burned, it releases toxins such as benzene and toluene which get inhaled, of course. Paraffin candles are as dangerous to the lungs as second-hand smoke. The American Lung Association warns that burning paraffin candles can emit toxins (in measurable amounts) into the air in my home.

Soy candles are made from hydrogenated soy, palm and coconut oils. They burn cooler and have very little soot; however, by purchasing a soy candle I am supporting the American soy industry which farms mostly genetically manipulated soy. I am not a fan of genetically manipulated foodstuff.

Beeswax candles are the best of course. As much as I wish to stimulate the economy by purchasing a few, I just cannot afford this expense right now.

I also feel unsure about heating. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, wood burning is not environmentally friendly. In fact, wood results in high levels of air pollution that can harm the environment and one’s health. According to Laura Oatman, an environmental research scientist with the Minnesota Department of Health, burning wood puts fine particles and toxins in the air. Wood smoke contains such harmful substances as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and inhalable particulate matter, wood tars, gases, soot, ashes and potentially carcinogenic toxins. The fine particles in the smoke can affect the lungs and the heart and lead to respiratory illnesses.

EPA studies indicate that exposure to wood smoke is just as harmful as being exposed to an equal amount of cigarette smoke in an indoor environment. In addition, there is the cancer risk. EPA researchers suggest that the lifetime cancer risk from wood stove emissions may be 12 times greater than the lifetime cancer risk from exposure to an equal amount of cigarette smoke. I wonder, does this mean that inhaling second-hand cigarette smoke in a bar is 12 times safer for me than spending an equal amount of time in a cigarette-free house that has a wood-burning stove? What to do? What to do?

Quoting Dr. Wayne Ott, Statistics, Stanford University: "The largest single source of outdoor fine particles (PM2.5) entering into our homes in many American cities is our neighbor's fireplace or wood stove.”

Quoting Mary J. Rozenberg
AVERAGED EMISSIONS OF FINE PARTICLES IN GRAMS PER HOUR:
Non Certified Stove4 = 15.6 grams/hour
Certified Stove4 = 8.2 grams/hour (or 196.8 grams/day)
Pellet Stove = 2.4 grams/hour (or 57.6 grams/day)
Single simulated (synthetic) log = 8 grams to 40 grams/per log
Auto-catalytic= 0.66 grams/hour (Driving 3 hours =1.92 grams)
Auto non catalytic = 3.5 grams/hour
Auto smoking = 6 grams/hour
(30)Cigarette = 0.4 grams/hour
Oil furnace = .02 grams/hour
Gas or Propane Furnace = 0.001grams/hour
GreenishLady said…
That's funny... I almost lit my oil lamp, but didn't, because my candles were supplying quite enough light. [Of course, my oil-heating was still running, so it wasn't really much of a statement, was it?] I had such a peaceful time in the quiet and candlelight, that I thought an hour like that each week would be a very good thing. I really like the sense of Earth Hour as a global event connecting us in so many places too.
Patty said…
Hi Rose,
you will find what works for you and your conscience.
Beeswax is not expensive if you buy from a bee keeper and dipping candles is fun. With what i sell, I buy my wax and have plenty for our families needs.
You can get a wood stove with a catalytic converter on it. You can burn only dead wood, which cleans up the floor of the woods and burns cleaner, thats what we do.
everyone has to find their own balance in how gently we step on this earth
Towanda said…
I made my personal statement on Saturday night by turning on every single light in my house, inside and out. My God wants me to live in the light, not hiding in the darkness making meaningless little symbolic statements of fear. Our world can often be a dark place right now with problems abounding on every front; I refuse to give in to the darkness. I know those of you who have posted here do not agree with me or probably with my reasons -- but that is the delight of living in this country -- we still have the freedom to make our own statements - to live in the darkness of fear or the bright light of promise and faith, and we all make our own choices.
Patty said…
Never saw Earth Hour as some sort of religious experience, and find darkness an o.k. thing at night, especially at bedtime. No lights left on here. I suspect God knew what he was doing in creation when he gave us both light and dark. There is no fear of darkness when our hearts are right with God, and that is a wonderful thing
Emily said…
My family has just recently started using oil lamps and candles for much of our lighting needs. This week I made my first beeswax candles. They burned insanely fast and after doing some research online I found out that it was due to wicks I bought. Can you tell me what you use for wicks? I need about just using plain twine but it didn't give any thickness. And I also read about dipping your twine and letting it dry out but you dip the candles. Then I read about using wicking. I didn't get my wax from a beekeeper. At the time I bought it from the store I didn't even know you could get it that way. I know it will be different prices in different areas but do you mind telling me about how much it runs for you?

I remember the first time I came across your blog and I thought 'wow I love how simple and ol' fashion your life seemed'. Now a year later or so my own life is evolving into something similar.
Patty said…
Hi Emily,
I use 100% cotton wicking and have for years without any complaints.
The beeswax we use burns slowly, I don't think we have ever burned an entire candle in one evening, but we make sure to keep them out of drafts. If 100% beeswax drips, then its in a draft.
To be honest I don't remember what it was I paid for my beeswax as it was purchased several years ago. I just bought all the bee keeper had on hand, so its lasted a long time and now I have been using bayberry too. Love that wax, hard as can be, but burns better with some beeswax added to it. Its costly though and used only for special times due to the cost of it.

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