Lights on, or lights off? What do you think?

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=499670...

The dark truth behind bright lights of Doha’s Corniche
By Bonnie James
Deputy News Editor

Many skyscrapers on the Doha Corniche remain lit throughout the night. PICTURE: Thajuddin Skyscrapers lit from top to bottom in myriad hues make the Doha Corniche a beautiful sight to behold at night. But the treat for the eyes does not go well with energy conservation, as indicated by European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.
“When you drive through the city of Doha at night, you just think, ‘Wow, look how big our challenges are when we’re talking about more energy efficiency, less energy consumption and a low-carbon world,’” said Hedegaard, who was in Doha last week.
“The bright lights are all over. It would send a strong signal if Qatar came forward with concrete proposals on how they will pursue a more climate-friendly growth strategy,” she told Bloomberg’s Alex Morales.
Hedegaard toured Qatar and met key officials, including HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, to discuss the upcoming COP 18 climate change summit to be held in Doha in November and December.
In her discussions with HE al-Attiyah, who is to assume the presidency of the summit, and HE the Minister of Environment Abdullah bin Mubarak bin Aaboud al-Midhadhi, the EU official stressed ‘the importance of a presidency showing willingness to pursue a more green kind of growth, a climate-friendly kind of growth.’
Pointing out that literally every window of skyscrapers in Doha remain lit, Hedegaard urged Qatar ‘to come forward with a more coherent strategy as to how they will embrace the challenges of the future.’
Though environment is one of the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, this is not an easy task when considering the reality on the ground,” Unesco’s ecological science adviser in the Arab region, Dr Benno Boer, told Gulf Times.
“However, people in Qatar, nationals and expatriates alike, are ready to make their contributions – a lot of people ask us how they can participate – the will clearly exists. “What is needed now is guidance and synchronisation, to make Qatar more energy, water, and waste friendly, step-by-step and year after year,” he suggested.
No agency or official could give a satisfactory explanation to Gulf Times’ queries on why a good number of office buildings in Doha continued to have all the interior lights on throughout the night. One source claimed that all the new buildings use energy efficient lighting including LED and ‘it would not make much of a difference even if the lights were not switched off and on the contrary more energy would be used if they were turned off and on frequently.’
Another expressed doubt that there was ‘some law’ which ‘insisted that lights be left on throughout the night for safety and security reasons.’
An energy conservation expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, asserted ‘precious energy will indeed be saved if lights are switched off after office hours.’
“Lights, air-conditioners and all other electrical equipment except those for safety and security should be switched off at the end of the working day,” he explained while hoping that awareness will improve in this regard.
Energy conservation efforts should be practised more actively and not limited to the annual Earth Hour campaign, a global effort to raise awareness about climate change, by switching off lights for one hour.
“I agree that the Doha skyline did not look very attractive when most of the lights were off, but a lot of energy was saved,” he added.

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MY THOUGHTS

I like to see West Bay lit up at night. I know it's not very green (mostly blue actually), but as I drive around the corniche at night that beautiful spectacle always makes me think what a great city Doha is.