Embrace the darkness

Posted by Martin Lupton

It’s 08:30 on the 3rd of June and I am sat in Lyon airport waiting for a plane. Not enough time to do anything useful and I’ve forgotten my book so in desperation I turn to the free copy of the FT.  In the middle of today’s edition is a special report supplement called “Sustainable Banking”. On the front is a quarter page ad from the Mizuho Corporate Bank talking about their support for LED research and development for the advancement of technology and energy conservation. Not for the money, but for the greater good - yeah, right. Good news for the lighting industry though - we are on the radar, front page of the FT no less, well the supplement anyway.

I am even more surprised when I turn to the back page - a half page article leading with a picture of an empty office with the lights on. “Banks are seeing the light on reducing their consumption” is the by-line.  

Apparently, Bill Thomas, group head of sustainability for HSBC is angry when he sees other buildings lit overnight. Join the club Mr T - we’ve been telling you that for years and it’s a piece of piss to put right. Do you really mean it though or is this the usual merchant banker corporate spin? We’re going out to look at your building, you’re on the Light Collective radar, you could be our new hero…

Let’s face it, it’s not difficult to turn the lights off at night. You only have to go to Frankfurt and wander round the city at night. The skyline almost disapears at night. Let’s outlaw light in empty offices, let’s impose fines on corporate towers whose owners are afriad of the dark, bring on the light police. You would leave your tap running all night, why leave the light on?

Light Collective Rule #11: embrace the darkness. 

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