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Departments > Planning & Development > Development Services Division > Green Initiatives > Earth Hour QuicklinksAbout Earth 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 a part of the climate solution and that every day actions can add up to make a real difference. Global warming is one of the greatest threats the world has ever faced. Our continued reliance on electricity is causing a dramatic increase in the Earth's temperature, resulting in high sea levels, an increase in drought and severe storms, and massive changes to the environment we all rely on to survive. On Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8:30 p.m., cities around the world will be turning off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change. City of Victoria's Role
For the forth year, the City of Victoria is participating in Earth Hour and will turn off or down as many non-essential municipal building lights as safely possible. Staff will also turn off computers and monitors before leaving for the weekend. Sign-UpThe City of Victoria encourages all residents and businesses to turn off all unnecessary lights for this one hour and to sign-up online at: EarthHourCanada.org What Will You Be Doing in the Dark?Below are some fun activities that friends and family can do together to celebrate Earth Hour:
What Residents Can DoIn addition to turning out the lights, you can reduce your footprint by taking transit, unplugging unused electrical appliances and washing your clothes in cold water. Your actions can make a big difference. Electrical devices in a home are a direct contributor to global warming. Turning off unused lighting and appliances on stand by, or unplugging them from the wall, would reduce millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas per year. By turning off your lights for one hour on March 26, you will see how easy it is to make changes to your everyday behaviour to help fight climate change.
What Businesses Can DoBusinesses are an integral to making Earth Hour a success and there are many ways they can support Earth Hour:
Tips for Reducing Energy UseBelow are some tips to conserving electricity in your own home year-round. LIGHTING: Turn off lights whenever you leave a room in your home. Turn off all lights at night. Turn off lights near windows when day lighting is adequate. Enjoy natural light whenever possible. APPLIANCES: Turn off all unnecessary appliances, high tech devices and gadgets like computers and stereos. Run the dishwasher only with a full load and use air-dry and economy settings. HEAT OR HEATERS: Only heat the rooms you need by closing vents and doors of unused rooms. Set your thermostat using a programmable timer. Wear clothing for the season. SAVE WATER: Take five-minute showers instead of baths and use cold water for laundry. Heating water uses electricity. Use a water-saving showerhead. TRANSPORTATION: Carpool, use transit, use your bicycle or electric scooter. CAR IDLING: Turn off the engine if your vehicle is parked for 10 seconds or longer. COMPUTER AND MONITOR: Turn off your monitor if you're leaving your home computer for more than 30-40 minutes. Turn off your computer when not in use or at the end of the day. PRINTING: Use the double-sided/duplex printing feature. ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Unplug your charger when you are not using it, or plug everything on a power bar to easily turn off all devices at once. Did You Know?
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