Turn off non-essential lights for Earth Hour on March 27

The Town of Orangeville will join thousands of municipalities participating in Earth Hour 2010. On March 27, starting at 8:30 p.m., local residences and businesses are encouraged to turn off all non-essential lights and appliances for one hour. 

Earth Hour is a one-hour lights-out event, created by WWF (World Wildlife Fund), that mobilizes millions worldwide to show support for action on climate change. Earth Hour is designed to help show people how they can be part of the climate solution and that everyday actions can add up to a real difference.

The idea for Earth Hour was first started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, with a 10 percent drop in energy usage; by 2008 the event had gone global. On March 28, 2009, 88 countries and 4,000 towns and cities around the world, including Orangeville, participated in Earth Hour. Last year, over 10 million Canadians turned off their lights for Earth Hour and Canada was among the leading countries in the campaign in terms of cities participating (more than 280 nationally) and for participation per capita.

Orangeville resident Robin McDonald has once again organized an Earth Hour celebration in Alexandra Park (north of Town Hall). This is the third year that she has organized an event for Earth Hour and last year's event brought out 100-150 people. This year's plans include a live band, small fire pits and candles for illumination. She says she was inspired to run this event because she feels that everyone needs to be aware of the issues involved with climate change and to take a stance on conservation.  Orangeville residents can text "Earth" to 78247 for more information on the event at Alexandra Park.

Orangeville Council and the Orangeville Sustainability Action Team have endorsed Earth Hour 2010. They have issued a challenge to residents, businesses and area municipalities to join Earth Hour. Anyone can register at http://www.earthhour.org/  and Orangeville residents are encouraged to recruit friends and neighbours to get involved in the Earth Hour cause. Orangeville Hydro, along with Green Pathways, will be participating in the event and promoting conservation programs, such as Conservation Demand Management and Community Power, at a booth in Alexandra Park. The County of Dufferin will also be on hand to promote upcoming Earth Week activities and waste management programs.

"What a great way to get the word out about sustainable practices," says Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams. "Turning off your lights for an hour is a small action that carries a big message. Climate change is a global problem that can only be solved by individual people, in individual communities like Orangeville, working together towards a greater solution."

 Participating in Earth Hour is just the first step in the fight against climate change. WWF urges everyone to realize that our everyday actions, like turning off unnecessary lights, composting, and walking when possible, individually add up to make a big difference.

To obtain more information about Earth Hour around the world, please visit http://www.eathhour.org/

Here are some ideas for how to spend the hour:

1. Attend local Earth Hour events  or organize one. Add your event, or get details on events near you at Events.EarthHourCanada.org.
2. Go outside and look at the stars.
3. Find a great viewing spot to see your town or city go dark at 8:30 p.m.
4. Take pictures and post them to the Earth Hour Facebook page.
5. Go for a lantern walk through a park.
6. Patronize local restaurants and businesses taking part in Earth Hour.
7. Gather your family or friends for a candle-lit dinner.
8. Meet your neighbours at a street or block party.
9. Have an acoustic music jam.
10. Talk to your children about how much electricity your family uses. Brainstorm ways to reduce it.
11. Tell ghost stories.
12. Listen to the birds, bats or other wildlife.
13. Play flashlight tag.
14. Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree. And leave it there.
15. Play Pictionary with glow-in-the-dark markers.
16. Change all your light bulbs to energy-efficient versions.
17. Have a night game of shinny with a glow-in-the-dark puck or ball (wear reflective vests).
18. Take a walk in the moonlight.
19. Have a candlelit bath.
20. Put a glow stick on your dog's collar or leash and go for a walk.
21. Toast marshmallows over a tea light candle.
22. Get out your Ouija board.
23. Get out the sleeping bags and camp out on the living room floor.
24. Make a list of ways you could reduce your energy consumption every hour of every day.

• Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
• From: Council