Young French athletes have found a unique way to promote energy conservation. Recently, groups practicing parkour—a discipline that consists of running, climbing, and jumping over urban obstacles—have been swinging around cities such as Paris, switching off shop signs at night. More than a decade ago, Paris City Hall issued orders requiring stores to turn off all signs from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., but the ordinance is widely ignored. So parkour athletes have taken matters into their own hands, jumping up to find the switches that control outdoor lights. Although some businesses aren’t happy about the movement, these so-called Lights Off operations may be having the desired effect: Kevin Ha, the leader of On the Spot Parkour, says he’s noticed that several shops have stopped leaving their lights on since his group came by. “Everyone can contribute in their own way” to save energy, he says. “We put our physical abilities to good use.”