There are many reasons to dim the lights during dinner. Perhaps you’re looking for some romance. Or the pot roast you just plated is a bit overdone, and you’re trying to hide the evidence.
On Thursday, October 27, you can dine by candlelight as a way of demonstrating how simple actions, like turning off unnecessary lights, can make a big difference when it comes to saving electricity.
Nearly 50 restaurants and eateries in and around Vancouver are participating in the annual Candlelight Conservation Dinner in an effort to raise awareness about energy conservation.
In addition to providing the mood lighting for your dinner out, the establishments are each providing a special offer for the night, from free appies and desserts, to two-for-one offers and other appealing discounts.
You can view the complete list of participants here.
Congratulations to Brandy and Christina! Check your in-boxes for prize details
1:07 pm
Unplugging my phone once charged…not just leaving it there until I need to use it again!
10:10 pm
There is a place in countryside, where people nowadays dont use computer, dont watch Tv, no microwave at all.They dont know about I-phone and I-pad? so they dont need charge them….. Do these people sad about that? No, they are very happy. In fact, they save electricity, their health, they are very educated people cause their free time they spend reading using candle-light or doing outdoor activity, that make them be friendly and social without any network. If i like to contribute in saving electricity, i would rather join these happy people
12:16 pm
i conserve energy by not taking baths and just a shower once a day and laundry and dish washing in cold water as much as possible.
7:40 am
I will be taking the Canada line to the airport instead of cabbing when I leave for business trips.
1:09 pm
Besides dinning by candlelight ;) I’ll be taking some me time to read a book rather than be on my computer.
1:14 pm
I unplug my cell phone charger when I’m not using it…I also run around the house and turn off all the lights my boyfriend has left on!
1:16 pm
I will unplug my cell phone once it is done charging (actually unplug the charger from the wall/power bar) and turn off the printer when it is not being used.
1:16 pm
Rain or shine I plan to cook with my BBQ! And, in an effort to minimize the amount of time I open and close my fridge and use that power I will plan ahead and have my foods partially ready (ie: marinating) and my salad or veggies prepared in advance. I will have my entire daily menu planned in advance and will make every effort to avoid using electricty. Of course eating by candlelight will be a must!
1:17 pm
I have as many light dimmers attached to lighting fixtures in my apartment as possible it reduces energy consumption and lengthens the life of light bulbs. I also unplug any electronics I don’t actually use and I too turn off all the lights after my boyfriend lol.
1:17 pm
To conserve energy, I will challenge myself to use as little electricity as possible outside of work, including candlelights when I get home, and not using my computer. It will be a nice relaxing night!
1:19 pm
I have already started turning off computer at night, we only turn on lights now if necessary. Much more romantic to eat in a dimly lit room with candles anyway!! We have always enjoyed leisurely dinners (just the two of us) -no need for bright lights. Read up on the dishwasher and now set it to a non-dry cycle – much less energy and we are trying to improve our hydro bill too.
1:22 pm
Will be in the middle of packing and moving so ALL appliances will be unplugged!
1:22 pm
Unplug anything I’m not using. Turn off the lights when I leave a room. And sleep earlier so that I don’t have to use the lights! lol
1:23 pm
I crack the windows in my apartment to keep it from getting stuffy, and even though the air’s getting mighty cold, I refrain from putting the heat on and cozy up in my housecoat. Less energy, less money added to my rent!
1:24 pm
Take quick showers and unplug cell phone chargers after charging.
1:24 pm
Wear a sweater and use a blanket on the couch instead of turning up the heat. Read a book instead of surfing the net!
1:25 pm
We will make a conscious effort to only have lights on in the room when necessary, and focus on having an evening where we won’t be watching tv, or listening to the cd player. Candles at dinner that evening will make it extra special too!
1:25 pm
I will make an effort to unplug appliances and electronics that are not in use. Many people aren’t aware of this, but even if a toaster oven or phone charger is left plugged in when not in use, it’s still consuming energy.
1:27 pm
Besides the usual turning off lights when I’m not in the room, I plan to unplug chargers that I’m not using. Also, I plan to eat salad or other foods that do not require lots of electricity to cook.
1:27 pm
We recently downsized our home meaning less energy is needed to heat and light it. If we aren’t having a candlelight dinner out and about, we’ll be doing so at home!
1:32 pm
Unplugging appliance that are not in use, washing clothes in cold water are among a few steps to conserve energy.
1:35 pm
When I’m home, I will leave the curtains open to let in natural light instead of turning on the lights. I’ll also only keep one light on at a time, only in the room I’m in, when it gets dark. Also, I’ll unplug all unnecessary plugs before leaving the house and turn the water off while brushing my teeth.
1:36 pm
I was raised by Grandparents who were by nature, very energy conscious because they grew up in the dirty 30′s on the Canadian prairies. They were “Green” before it was the “in thing”-they were ahead of the environmentally responsible curve by 40 years.
I never leave any lights on in the house unless I am using them. I recycle, compost and have an organic garden in the summer. I use reuseable shopping bags. We don’t waste water. I carpool whenever I can or take transit.
One thing I will continue to do is to turn the heat down at night and just put another quilt on the bed.
I’d LOVE to win-October 27th is our 21st wedding anniversary. We got married on my grandparent’s 45th. Dinner by candlelight would be lovely!
1:36 pm
Switching all the light bulbs that came per-installed in my new apartment with Energy Saving bulbs! It conserves energy and saves money!
1:42 pm
If it’s a goodnight, picnic by moonlight, huddled in a blanket. Reading rather than watching tv, good for the brain and the environment!
1:42 pm
I won’t turn on the heating unless it’s absolutely freezing. Dress warm while at home to do this. I will also turn off and take the plug out of any electronics when not in use.
1:46 pm
I almost never run the dryer anymore. Hanging clothes to dry takes very little time and is better for the clothes as well as the environment. And I’d love to win a GC for dinner!
1:46 pm
We do most of what was listed above – but one thing I read about that we haven’t tried is to reduce the temperature on our water heater.
1:53 pm
Its my birthday next week so to save energy i wont be cooking or doing laundry and my husband will be giving me a nice candlelight dinner :)
In all honesty though…I always unplug electronics that arent being used. We reduce or heating bill by moving a heater around to the rooms we are actually using. I run the dishwasher as little as possible and i have placed tons of candles where or fireplace SHOULD be (ugh!!) to heat up the living room…its cozy, romantic and very energy efficient!
1:56 pm
I’ll continue to set my clothes washer to the cold water setting!
2:00 pm
I always hang my clothes to dry and never use a dryer, that goes the same for drying my hair (naturally instead of blow dryer). I also hand wash and dry dishes instead of using a dishwasher. Would love to dine in the dark!
2:03 pm
Washing clothes in cold water + hang to dry. Making sure my home is properly insulated. Running the dishwasher only when it’s full or even necessary!
2:04 pm
I make sure all the lights turn off when I leave the house. Also, I use luorescent light bulbs to save energy.
2:05 pm
To conserve energy, I will bike to work instead of driving.
2:07 pm
Using energy efficient lightbulbs at home and at work!
2:08 pm
I always turn off the lights and put on a sweater instead of cranking the heat. Wish I could ride my bike to work but that isnt possible.
2:30 pm
1. Air drying my hair
2. Opening all curtains to let the light in during the day time
3. Unplugging my laptop once its fully charged
2:32 pm
We’re saving energy by only doing full loads of laundry and hanging clothes to dry on our rack whenever possible.
2:34 pm
i unplug all unused electronics including microwave it save energy. and i plug back in only when i need to use. i turn off all of lights except the one i need to read. and have a desk lamp over my work station so i don’t need to use large room lights to do my work. turn off heat and put on sweater and socks when its not really cold to conserve!!
2:36 pm
We will be turning off and unplugging all appliances in our house that day and using candles for a light source. We will also layer clothing instead of turning up the heat. I’m afraid I draw the line at cold showers though….
2:40 pm
hanging my laundry to dry
2:48 pm
Including romantic candlelit dinners, I also make the most out of my candles, and use them to light the room instead of turning on a switch. Like watching movies, taking a bath, or when having a girls night :)
2:50 pm
i’ve started turning the computer off when i’m not using it instead of leaving it running all day.
2:51 pm
i turn off all the lights when not needing them.
3:01 pm
I always unplug all my electronic devices if I don’t need them (besides the fridge for sure). Believe it or not, I don’t have a TV, so I don’t waste time and energy watching TV. Furthermore, I only use energy-saving bulbs and turn off lights when I don’t need them.
3:12 pm
Going to be spending more time with my girlfriend outside, rather than keeping the TV, computer, and lights on at home.
3:15 pm
I always conserve energy by using compact fluorescent bulbs; reducing, reusing, and recycling; air drying clothes; anti-idling, etc.
3:19 pm
We have made sure that we only use compact florescent bulbs in out overhead lighting as well as our lamps. We have made efforts to lower our thermostat to 69 degrees which keeps our house at around 67 degrees (it is right next to our fridge so the temp is a bit warmer there) during times when we are not at home and overnight. When we are home we are committed to putting on socks and maybe a long sleeve shirt if we are chilly before we turn up the thermostat for heat. We have a blanket on our couch to cuddle up in if it is chilly. We are also in the process of installing rain barrels around all four corners of our house to capture rain water that we will use this coming summer for our garden. We have started cooking meals that will last for two to three days rather than cooking a meal each night to reduce our natural gas usage. We carpool as often as possible. We keep the vegetable scraps that are not being incorporated into our meals, freeze them, and then make a great vegetable stock out of them instead of purchasing the processed sodium filled store bought stuff…. oh.. I could keep on and on about the ways we continue to try to decrease our footprint! OH! We also have a pet waste composting service that deals with our animals waste so that it does not go into the landfill.
3:32 pm
My husband and I turn all electronics off at the wall before going to work in the morning and before bed at night!
3:42 pm
I always turn the lights off when I leave a room, I take public transportation to work, I use compact fluorescent lightbulbs and I hang my clothes up to dry.
4:13 pm
I never leave appliances on standby and always turn off and unplug my computer every night. I do my best to educate family and friends, it’s one thing to save energy yourself, but to convince others to do so is gold!
4:16 pm
We will turn the water off while we brush our teeth and unplug the cell phone charger.
4:26 pm
i will be turning off lights as soon as i leave a room in my house
4:29 pm
Shutting down the computer when I’m not using it, and turning the lights off. Also keeping the heating off and using blankets and wearing layers to stay warm!
4:49 pm
Plan on turning off all non-essential lights, switching off the laptop and all chargers, then we are having a candlelight family dinner then flashlight hide and seek
4:51 pm
I will unplug all my appliances (kettle, etc.) and won’t turn on any lights except when I need direct lighting, making sure to turn off immediately after use. Will not use my laptop and will read my book instead. I won’t use the stove/oven for my dinner – will make a healthy salad instead. Will make a conscious effort to also conserve my water use.
4:55 pm
During the day I’ll open up my blinds as a primary source of light.
4:56 pm
As a residence advisor, I’ll be turning off lights and encouraging residents to do the same.
5:05 pm
Unplug as I go, everything that isn’t in use! I only need the toaster once in the morning, it can be unplugged after that! And homework without lights…maybe not that one, but I can cut back on the INTERNET/Computer use!
5:09 pm
Candlelight raw food dinner, then a walk around the neighbourhood, and finish off the evening with a cuddle under the blanket.
5:37 pm
AM: Quick shower and 3-min blow-dry (I airdry in the summer) get dressed in the dark… of the morning. Public transit to and from work. Turn work computer off at lunch, and turn off the light in the gym/unplug toasters when no one is looking :P
PM: Cold entree with raw veggies, and cold dessert, taking all ingredients out of the fridge at once. Full load of laundry will be washed in cold water and hung to dry. Candlelight dinner wherever I am, no time for TV watching/computer. Unplug all unnecessary appliances, and of course, only have lights on (dimmed) in the room I’m in.
6:10 pm
Powering off my computer when not in use.
6:19 pm
We unplug all small appliances in the kitchen when not using. We also unplug our tv And electronics at night and when we’re not at home.
6:35 pm
I plan to turn off my computer, unplug my phone charger from the wall, turn off all the lights in rooms my husband and i are not in, and spend the evening via candlelight.
7:03 pm
I haven’t turned my heat on in October yet. Warm slippers, sweaters, and cozy blankets keep me warm in the wintertime! And it’s a great excuse to get extra cuddly with my hubby.
7:21 pm
I will bring my own clear plastic bags for produce at the grocery store. We all remember to bring the bags for all the produce at check out but we could save a lot of energy in producing plastic bags for fruit and veggies if we brought our own each time!
7:40 pm
I’ll turn off any appliances and lights that are not in use.
8:31 pm
Plugging a charger out after charging a device.
8:35 pm
Being a total OCD person about my home, I always make sure that all my electronics, appliances & lamps that won’t be used are unplugged. I don’t care if it’s a stereo or a toaster, ALL are unplugged. ~ Yes, I know: Madness but humorous as my BF would say haha
8:38 pm
Being a total OCD person about my home, I always make sure that all my electronics, appliances & lamps that won’t be used are unplugged when I leave. I don’t care if it’s a stereo or a toaster, or I’m at home & not using it – ALL are unplugged. EVERYDAY!!!
~ Yes, I know: Madness but humorous as my BGF would say haha
9:08 pm
I do my best to conserve every day.
At night I even go around my work and shut down computers & turn off lights on my way out.
9:09 pm
have a no cook meal and head to bed early.
10:17 pm
I normally unplug my computer and all appliances before I leave. I never turn on my dishwasher until it is completely full and I usually bathe in candlelight.
10:19 pm
Finally taking the bike out of storage and cutting down on gas bills.
10:37 pm
I’m going to take the initiative to take shorter, cooler showers as opposed to taking long hot showers. Also, I am going to unplug my phone charger when not in use! A bad habit of mine is leaving my phone charger and iPod charger plugged in; a waste of energy. I’m going to wear more warmer clothes during the winter rather than cranking the heat in the house (although its always like that because my mom ensures the thermostat isn’t being altered.) I am going to take these steps and hopefully get in the habit of more energy saving steps around the home and my everyday life! A little goes a long way.
10:39 pm
i unplug the charger after i’m done charging my phone.
10:45 pm
I only run the washer when there’s a full load
10:58 pm
I’d turned down the heat in my home and wear warm clothes for the winter.
11:03 pm
People complain when the power goes out, but I always have the most relaxing evening, reading books by candle light or playing cards with loved ones. I think I may start an initiative among friends and family to have a “power out” evening once every week or two, to take the time to reconnect the old fashioned way while helping conserve electricity too!
1:55 am
3 minute showers are good enough for me! And my brother has a horrible habit of keeping the lights on in the house when he’s out, so I turn off all the lights in the house if no one’s using the room.
1:56 am
I would turn down the light to create a more warm atmosphere and turn off the TV so I can get nice and cozy with my girl. Also saves on energy too!
7:45 am
Turn off my computer monitor if I am away for a long period of time.
7:59 am
I unplug everything in my house that is not being used at that time. I make sure that all my lights are turned out when I leave a room and I hang dry my clothes instead of using the dryer. I grew up with no electricity, so I know how to keep things to a minimum! Thanks!
8:10 am
We will eat our dinner by candlelight, and sit and chat for the evening instead of watching TV or playing on the computer.
I try to cook larger quantities so that I can just heat up frozen leftovers throughout the work week.
8:37 am
Unpluggin’ and taking the time to spend have real connections with people face to face. Love that I am moving to a neighbourhood that I can walk to great markets with local products.
A candlelight dinner is the perfect way to kick off the beginning of a new path in this fab journey
9:34 am
Turning off my laptop when I’m not using it :)
9:50 am
I’ll have my own candlelight dinners at home all year round !
Of course some days we may need to have the lights on , but for the most part turn off the lights and eat by the candlelights.
Also unplug charged phones and unused wires in the outlets
9:53 am
What a great event to raise awareness for energy conservation! I will conserve energy by unplugging appliances when they are not in use, and using energy-saving bulbs for for my most used lights at home and at work.
9:55 am
Unplugging things that I’m not using and taking much shorter showers.
10:05 am
shabu shabu with butane grill by candlelight is always a fun gathering!
10:17 am
Candle light dinners sure are romantic and a great way to spend the ‘just the two of us’ time (after having a baby). :) My husband and I always turn off the lights and unplug all appliances when not in use.
10:35 am
I unplug all appliances around the house when the are not in use :) I also try to use the same drinking glass throughout the day.
10:56 am
I unplug all appliances and electronics that are not in use.
11:02 am
hmm.. I see a trend her about unplugging electronics, seems like a something we should all do.. let me get down to the real stuff. We all have showers right? Well I save energy by having ice cold showers, they are invigorating and you use less water because you want to get out of there as fast as you can.
After having one of these, I feel like chasing the neighbours dog like a cheetah taking down an antelope (I refrain from doing so).
Save energy and heating bills and have cold showers!
12:04 pm
Turning off the computer at night instead of leaving it on sleep mode.
12:23 pm
As always, I’ll only run my energy-efficient dishwasher when I have a full load, I’ll set the washer to cold, and unplug chargers and little appliances when not in use. I have the heat set to 18 degrees in the house and wear a cozy sweater to stay warm. Hope we all learn some new tips on how to conserve energy from this; a lot of little things add up to a greater good!
1:06 pm
I make a conscious effort to reduce energy consumption as much as I can. On October 27, I’ll be dining by candlelight ;)
1:34 pm
I love using candles for light :) We also have energy star appliances and use blankets in the living room for warmth instead of turning on the heat!
1:34 pm
Turning off lights when we don’t use them, turning off the computer when not in use and using candles are all things we do on a regular basis to conserve energy!
2:10 pm
We changed all of our lights over to smart bulbs over the summer and only turn lights on when needed. I use the one bulb in the hood vent to cook by instead of turning the lights on for the entire kitchen. Our thermostat normally stays turned down until we hit the dead of winter (2-3 blankets on the bed). I always walk to work and also walk to 90% of my appointments. I charge my phone/iPod through my laptop so that I don’t have a charger plugged in all the time; always unplug the power cord when the battery is finished charging. We recycle everything: paper, plastic, metal, batteries. We use reusable shopping bags and, for the times when we actually have to use plastic bags, we reuse them as garbage bags instead of going out and buying bags specifically. Anything that is still usable, we donate to charity or give away/sell.
4:57 pm
Working for a Utilities company means we’re always at the forefront of energy….and energy inputs.
I will be dining out by candlelight, winner or not….
In addition,
- recently bought reuseable/portable chopsticks to bring with me to restaurants (no more wood ones for me!)
- I turn off lights around the house, sometimes when my roommates are still using them ;)
- I turn the water off in the shower when lathering (a trick I learned in Australia
5:44 pm
Turn off unnecessary lights, turn down the heat at night and when out, re-use/recycle, unplug chargers and small appliances when not in use, new double-glazed low-e windows.
9:56 pm
I always hang up the laundry before it’s dry which not only saves on electricity and energy of the dryer, but it also saves on ironing. I am saving water by only showering, and every second day I just hand wash. I use transit whenever possible to save on fuel and the wear and tear of my car.
10:54 pm
I will make sure I shut down my laptop and lights as frequently as possible
10:56 pm
I will shut down my laptop more often
9:09 am
I will take transit to school or bike. No car if possible
12:32 pm
I will turn off all unnecessary lights :)
11:31 am
We’ve been really good about wearing sweaters and using blankets instead of cranking the heat, I know that makes a big difference. We also have transitioned to almost exclusively hanging our clothes to dry instead of using the dryer… I actually can’t remember the last time I turned the dryer on :)
7:36 am
We made sure to buy a house that has a gas stove and fireplace. We bought a place that faces west so the natural heat of the sun has been great…so no need to turn on heat :) My husband installed dimmers in all the rooms and use high efficiency light bulbs. We bought a high efficiency washer and I also wash by hand. We also hang are clothes to dry. We unplug anything we aren’t using. We take public transit to and from work even if it would be more “convenient” to drive. We open our blinds as much as possible to let in the natural light. We don’t use many appliances of convenience…I enjoy chopping with a knife rather than use a food processor. No electric can opener in this house, thank you very much :) and yes I although our home came with a dishwasher …I use this great energy efficient method called “hand washed” to clean my dishes lol but the dishwasher makes a great drying rack :)
8:34 am
I’ll be taking all unused plugs out of the wall to conserve energy.
10:02 am
I make a concerted effort to turn off lights, pull unused electrical cords from the wall, specifically the electric toothbrush!
9:22 am
My roommate and I are always conscious of our energy use. We always unplug appliances that are not in use and hardly touch our dishwasher.
9:23 am
We keep our heat turned off year round and bundle up with sweaters and blankets when necessary. We only charge electronics when we are around so we can unplug them as soon as they are charged.
9:24 am
I live near that super-bright video screen outside BC Place. At dinner (I eat early as I’m up at 4:30 AM), my lights go off and up go the blinds: the light from the Telus and Whitecaps ads is bright enough for me to read in my living room.
9:24 am
I am going to save energy and water by installing low flow shower heads and low flush toilets in my house.
9:26 am
This is a great idea! I’d love to win a gift certificate.
9:38 am
We’ll do it in our family by turning off all thermostats when we’re out!
9:41 am
Cold water laundry and I wait until I have full loads so I do less. Also keeping the blinds open and lights off during the day (& in rooms we aren’t in when it’s dark out)
9:44 am
Keeping the TV and computer off that night, and maybe light some candles instead of turning lights on :)
10:02 am
We only do laundry when we have full loads. We use the cold water cycle and hang to dry whenever possible. When using the dryer, we add a dry towel to the load to speed up the drying time. We always turn off lights when leaving a room and unplug all appliances when not in use (including our phone chargers). We wear warmer clothes in the house during winter, snuggle under a blanket when watching movies and dine by candlelight a few times a month (it’s romantic and it saves energy!). We’ve also outfitted our home with CFL bulbs.