In the dark…in St. John's

WWF

Written by Steph Nicholl, Coordinator, Atlantic Program and Outreach
It’s January 4th.  I’m sitting on my couch, bundled up in thermal underwear, wool socks, and quilts, watching the lights flicker.  Will they go off again?   With rolling power outages across Newfoundland, we’ve been alerted by our energy representatives that when we have power, we need to conserve because there isn’t enough to meet the demands of the entire island. Thousands of people have only had intermittent power since January 2nd – and there are many that have it far worse than me. This is the coolest January I can remember…and temperatures are dropping. Still, even from my cocoon of blankets, I can say that the words “energy conservation” are coming up over and over again – on the radio, on social media, even outside in the line-up at the grocery store. Well, the one that has power, anyway. 

In the dark © Stephanie Nicholl
In the dark © Stephanie Nicholl

Right now in Newfoundland, we need to conserve all of the energy we can. Yet the actions we take now also need to be top-of-mind everyday and not something that’s only implemented in the event of an “incident”.  By conserving, reducing our dependency on the plug, or choosing energy alternatives that lower our environmental impact (such as Bullfrog Power), we can alleviate the excessive usage of fossil fuel, lessen the strain on our current energy infrastructure, and work toward a cleaner environment. Hop off the grid for a bit.  Engage in face-to-face conversations. Get outside. Reconnect with your kids.  Take your dog for a romp in the snow. A little goes a long way.
It's cold outside! © Stephanie Nicholl
Brrrr! © Stephanie Nicholl

WWF is working towards a future where the energy we all use is from 100% renewable sources, and energy conservation is a key part of getting there.  With National Sweater Day (Thursday, February 6th,  2014) and Earth Hour (Saturday March 29th, 2014, 8:30pm-9:30pm) just around the corner, it’s time to pull together to promote the little actions that make the big difference.
An important end note: A huge thank you to the individuals who have worked tirelessly to rectify the power situation here in Newfoundland. We’re back up and running now!