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San Francisco Supervisor Seeks Darkened Skyline

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Mar 24, 2009 8:35 pm US/Pacific

San Francisco Supervisor Seeks Darkened Skyline

 Environment & The Green Beat
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / BCN) ― San Francisco Supervisor David Chiu introduced legislation Tuesday that would prohibit downtown commercial buildings from leaving the lights on after hours.

"It's a simple idea, it's a common-sense idea," said Chiu.

The proposed ordinance to amend the city's Environment Code is intended to save electricity usage and thus reduce San Francisco's carbon footprint.

Chiu said businesses should take advantage of available, cost-effective technology that can turn office lights off automatically when the last worker leaves.

Not only would the ordinance decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but it would also reduce electricity bills, according to the legislation.

Chiu's legislation would require commercial building owners to phase in the darkened skyline over one year. He envisions building owners installing automatic switches that turn off lights when no one is around. Offices and buildings occupied overnight would be exempt, along with residential properties. The law would also allow offices' emergency lighting to remain on, as well as in areas where after-hours cleaning takes place.

If approved, San Francisco would become the only city in North America to require office buildings big and small to turn off their lights at night in the name of energy conservation.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)

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