E is for Earth Hour

Earth Hour is next Saturday, March 28 at “8:30 p.m. local time, wherever you live on planet earth,”  until 9:30.

Earth Hour’s an event created by the World Wildlife Fund  to encourage responsible energy use, calling on people to turn off their lights/electric devices for one hour to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. 

This event first started in Sydney in 2007. Since then, cities around the world have joined in, including Phoenix. Here’s a video with more information about Earth Hour. You can see Phoenix going dark at 1:50:

 

Unfortunately, according to a Phoenix New Times piece, Phoenix won’t be participating in Earth Hour this year.  City officials have claimed it’s cheaper leaving lights on to rack up the electric bill than paying people overtime to turn them off. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute. If you’re looking for ways to participate in Earth Hour besides sitting by yourself in a dark room, the Arizona Science Center will be offering stargazing  through telescopes in Heritage Square from 8-10 p.m.  

 You can also calculate your household emission levels with U.S. Environmental Protections Agency’s great household emissions calculator and use its tips to cut back on greenhouse gasses while saving money in the process.

Judy’s Phoenix Blog offers a list of Ten Things You Can Do in the Dark if you’re looking for a few more ways to spice up your Earth Hour.

Whether you decide to gaze through a telescope, snuggle up to your significant other or just turn off that unnecessary lamp, use Earth Hour as an opportunity to be mindful of how small actions can have a big impact.

EDIT

For those of you in Tucson looking for something to do for Earth Hour, there’s a concert under the stars at Sabino Canyon.  Western, chorus and smooth jazz bands will be playing along with the U.S. Forest Service’s string band  The Fiddlin’ Foresters.

The concert will go from 5-9 p.m. and the parking’s free. The concert suggested donation is $5 a person and $10 for a family, with the proceeds going towards Friends of  Sabino Canyon. In addition to the concert, there will be telescopes to look at the stars, a silent auction, food and drinks, as well as storytelling and Smokey Bear for kids.

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