Don’t panic: LA landmarks go dark as energy-saving stunt

The lights will go out at major landmarks and buildings throughout Los Angeles for one hour Friday night as part of a promotional stunt aimed at urging Angelenos to conserve energy this summer.

Mayor Eric Garcetti kicked off the campaign calling for energy conservation, with the region expected to face a natural gas supply shortage brought on by a months-long gas leak at Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon storage facility.

City Hall, the Urban Lights art exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the LAX Pylons, Central Library, Bank of America Tower, Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles and other locales will shut off the lights from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Garcetti asked residents and businesses to do the same.

Garcetti said steps will be taken at city facilities to reduce energy usage by 5 percent from the past five year’s average usage for the same August and October months. He asked that large employers, universities and commercial buildings to also adopt this target.

Meanwhile, city officials are recommending that residents and businesses join the effort by:

• Unplugging devices once they have been fully charged.
• Setting air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDS.
• Washing clothes in cold water.
• Switching off lights in rooms that are not being used.
• And upgrading to appliances designated as Energy Star, or efficient, and trade in old fridges through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s refrigerator recycling program.

A public outreach campaign and new incentives will also be rolled out, according to Garcetti, with more information about the programs at SaveEnergyLA.org and in Spanish at AhorraEnergiaLA.org

— City News Service