An OTBKB reader writes:

Hello: I live on President, between 7th and 8th; across the street from
me are two brownstones the owners of which leave several outdoor lights
on 24 hours a day. After observing this for weeks and weeks, and
pondering whether I should send letters reminding them of the wasted
energy and money and general waste, I finally yesterday approached one
owner while she was standing outside her home. I introduced myself, and
politely asked if she was aware that the lights were always on. She
replied thusly: Yes, we know, we tried a timer but it doesn’t work, and
with nannies and other people in and out all the time, and since I
don’t want to come home late at night to darkness, we just leave them
on.

I thanked here for her time and came back home. That was on a
sunny, bright afternoon. The lights remained on that day, and are
burning brightly as I type. I give up, but am amazed that people are so
wasteful.

Any tips out there about getting people to understand that wasting energy is a bad idea?