Photo by Tahmid Munaz �

My company started a green initiative related to electricity usage.  They’ve installed modules that make the electric system in our building “smart”.  Now, different zones can be turned off from a central location to save electricity.  This benefits both the company, which frugally cuts its utility bill, and the planet, as less fossil fuels are burned due to the decreased usage.  It’s a win-win.  Hooray!

The planet breathes a sigh of relief

Since the upgrade, the building lights get turned on at a certain time of the morning.  People who get in before the lights get turned on must rely on their desk  lights for illumination.  This part doesn’t affect me, as I’m not a morning person.  The lights are burning for a couple of hours before I set foot in the building.

Who turned out the lights?

But a new phenomenon occurred yesterday: the lights were turned down during lunch.  While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, I use my lunch break for paying bills, reading other blogs, or brainstorming articles for this blog.  I could barely see my keyboard, and for a lousy typist, this is a problem.  many other people thought this was a bad idea also.  One guy taped a flashlight to a hardhat, and walked around.  That was good for a few laughs.  Maybe they should have issued one of these to everyone:

Grin and bear it

One of the directors came by during the improvised headlamp joke, and remarked that it was indeed dark in our area.  But he didn’t say anything about changing the policy, so I guess it’s lunch in the dark.  I wonder if they’ll continue this during the winter.  That would be pretty bleak.

Don’t like it?  Go get some fresh air!

At least the lights came back on after lunch.  I wasn’t worried;  I always have a small flashlight as part of  my every day carry.  But another thought occurred, actually a quote from Office Space:

“Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about about mission statements.”

Maybe I should take Peter Gibbons’ advice and get out of the building into the sunshine.  I can save my blog writing for the nighttime.

Thank you, Facilities Department, for making this post possible.

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