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Turn off your lights for Earth Hour

Turn off the lights this Saturday, March 29 for Earth Hour.

Environment Minister Mary Polak is encouraging individuals and

businesses throughout the province to participate in Earth Hour 2014 by

powering down between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014.

"Participating in Earth Hour is a simple way for British Columbians to

conserve energy while saving costs," said Polak. "To demonstrate our

government's ongoing climate action efforts, the Jubilee Lights at the

Parliament Buildings in Victoria will be shutting off for the sixth year

in a row in addition to the many provincial government offices that

regularly power off non-essential lights and electronics after hours."

During last year's Earth Hour, the province saved 136 megawatt hours of

electricity and reduced the provincial electricity load by 1.95% - the

equivalent of turning off more than 10 million 12.5 watt LED light bulbs.

British Columbia communities started off strong with Comox and Courtenay

leading the highest reduction in energy use at nearly 10%.

This year, two Canadian Earth Hour City finalists - Surrey and the City

of North Vancouver - received a special mention from World Wildlife

Fund's (WWF) jury of experts for their ambitious efforts to boost

renewable energy and reduce carbon footprints.

Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement organized by the World

Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about harmful climate change effects.

Starting in Sydney, Australia as a one hour lights-off event, the

movement has grown to engage more than 7000 cities worldwide encouraging

individuals and businesses to take a symbolic stance in support of

climate change action.

 

Quick Facts:

According to the World Wildlife Funds

* Earth Hour 2013 took place in more than 7000 cities and towns in 154

countries and territories across world. The campaign experienced its

biggest growth since 2009.

* Key international landmarks participating in 2013:

* The Tokyo Tower

* The Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral and Red Square in Russia

* The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben in London

* The Eiffel Tower in Paris

* The Grand Palace and Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand

* The top five B.C. communities for this year's Earth Hour were Comox,

Courtenay, North Sannich, Sidney and Qualicum.

* The total provincial energy savings from Earth Hour participation since

2008 is 500.27 megawatt hours of electricity - the equivalent of turning

off 40 million 12.5 watt LED light bulbs.

 

Learn More:

* BC Hydro's Power Smart: www.bchydro.com/powersmart

* LiveSmart BC: www.livesmartbc.ca

* WWF Earth Hour Canada website: www.wwf.ca/earthhour/

* BC Hydro's Earth Hour Page: www.bchydro.com/earthhour