On Saturday, March 26 at 8:30pm, we are all being asked to turn off our lights for Earth Hour.
Around the world, people will participate in Earth Hour, a global event organized by World Wildlife Fund, and making the symbolic gesture of showing they support a cleaner world by switching off lights and power for an hour.
This simple and amazing idea of going dark and unplugging for an hour to drive action on climate change began in Australia in 2007.
This year it’s expected that well over 1 billion people in over 145 countries will take part.
So turn off the lights and unplug – it’s also about shutting down all those power-hungry electronic devices that have become such an integral part of our lives, including the television and computer.
What can we do with our kids during Earth Hour?
It’s a great opportunity to talk to our kids about electricity, saving energy, our earth.
You can show the kids your electricity meter and work out how much less electricity you use during Earth Hour.
Do your kids need reminding to turn the lights off after leaving a room? Leaving the TV on? Earth Hour is a great opportunity to talk about cutting back on power usage every day.
Talk to your kids about global warming. Sitting in the dark by candlelight is a good time to discuss this issue and how we all can make a difference!
Did you know that an empty freezer uses up more energy than a full one? If you have empty space in your freezer, fill empty containers 2/3rd full with water and put them in your freezer. The ice will keep the temperature inside allowing your freezer to use less energy.
Unplug all of your appliances, even if they aren’t being used, like the toaster or coffee maker.
Think about setting your furnace lower by one or two degrees at night.
For more information see the official Earth Hour website and follow the link to find your local site.
Do you plan on sitting in the dark this Saturday night?