Easter Eggs = Less Energy Use?

From NYTimes.com, Green Inc.

By Kate Galbraith

On the evening of March 28, people around the globe turned off their lights in observation of “Earth Hour” — an event aimed at drawing attention to energy conservation.

But it’s actually a bit later in the year — usually April or May — when Americans, with little fanfare, use the least amount of energy. Indeed, in terms of daytime usage between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., the day of the year with the lowest electricity consumption has fallen in April or May every year since 2000, according to New England’s grid operator.

The single lowest energy-use day has coincided with Easter Sunday on three of those years.

“Temperatures moderate and the daylight hours grow longer in the months of April and May,” said Erin O’Brien, a spokeswoman for I.S.O.-New England, the grid operator, in an e-mail message. “This combination prompts customers and business to use less electricity for heating, cooling and lighting.”

Because of the lull in demand, many power plants often shut down for maintenance, ahead of the hot, air-conditioned summer.

Said Paul Rosengren, a spokesman for P.S.E.G., an energy company based in New Jersey: “Spring is a time when you try to get a lot of your summer prep done.”

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