Do you prefer working in light, or dark? A company called Rackspace has two sections to its corporate office: a lights-on section, and an all-dark section. People have different preferences, and in progressive high-tech startup companies, they can actually cater to it.
I like working in the dark. Just me and the computer screen. You don't see anything else. You can really focus, without distractions (or glare). I've occasionally worked in darkness, though it's been a while. It somehow just doesn't seem right. But now, Rackspace has legitimized the concept.
I wonder how my coworkers would feel if, tomorrow, I didn't turn my lights on. Just worked in the dark. I'm designing a website. That would really help me focus totally on my work. I'm afraid my coworkers might consider it a bit weird, even creepy. But...should I care?
Career-wise, I've been hanging around and writing about and cheering on churches and pastors for the past 25 years as my denomination's Communications Director.
Just tell them you're being green and trying to do your part to save the planet by turning off the lights. After all, I'm quite sure your office uses more electricity than anyone else's.