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Bay Area Prepares For Lights Out San Francisco

Monday, October 15, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 15, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- Home and business owners are being asked to voluntarily turn off their lights for one hour. It's an idea that is designed to raise awareness about climate change with the flip of a switch.

Section by section, the lights went out on the Bay Bridge. Crews turned off 600 light fixtures in all, and bay area residents were quick to notice.

"It's weird. What is it? It's kind of scary," said Alameda resident Monty Heying.

Caltrans turned off the bridge's decorative lights to preview what will happen on Saturday.

From 8 to 9pm, San Francisco residents are being asked to turn off non-essential lights, all part of an effort to conserve energy and fight global warming.

It's being called Lights Out San Francisco.

"We're not going to be saving a lot of money, turning the lights off, it's more about the message about being aware," said Caltrans spokesperson Bart Ney.

The Golden Gate Bridge will also be included in the event, and so will Alcatraz and the Transamerica building.

Former Google PR manager Nate Tyler came up with the idea during a trip to Sydney, Australia.

"Suddenly the lights around the harbor went out and it was part of an effort there called Earth Hour and it occurred to me that it was a very simple and powerful thing that everyone could do very easily. Turn off your lights for an hour," said Lights Out San Francisco founder Nate Tyler.

But Tyler is taking it a step further. He wants people to install energy-efficient, compact fluorescent light bulbs during that one hour.

So far, his non-profit group has distributed thousands of bulbs paid for by the public utilities commission.

Many businesses plan on distributing them as well. Delfina in the Mission District is one of 11 restaurants promoting lights out.

They are telling customers to be prepared for a candlelight dinner Saturday night.

"We do say you're invited to bring in a candle if you'd like to, you don't need to. And everyone's been more than enthusiastic about it thinking yeah, it sounds like a lot of fun. So it's really adding to our business," said Delfina manager Harmony Niles.

Saturday's event won't be the last time there'll be a mass flipping of the switch. On march 28th, expect the rest of the country to do the same -- It's being called Lights Out America.

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