this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026
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So is my air conditioner. It's not like me turning the dial up a few degrees is going to keep the world spinning properly. /s
It's not just Times Square just like it's not just my AC. Times Square is a visual representation of how seriously the city and it's residents take the issue. If those lights are blaring, then I assume a whole lot of other corporate power consumption is likewise excepted.
That's just vibes though. Your AC is a node in a distributed cooling system that all respond to the same ambient environmental signals which means they act in a distributed coordinated manner. There are government systems for power reduction of commercial spaces - certifications, tax incentives, negawatt incentives, etc. The distributed system of ACs is almost impossible to manage because it's functionally anarchic. And the combination of your AC and all 8m of your neighbors' ACs turns out to be an order of magnitude more draw than all of the lighting in the entire city.
Society is constructed on vibes. NYC is 8 million people vibing together.
Trump is President because of "vibes". Vibes matter because they influence behavior. Just look at the stock market. There will be more compressors working harder because of the vibes put out by those lights. Guaranteed.