Have you heard the hype around Earth Hour 2009? Wonder what it is all about?
This world-wide event started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 when 2.2 million participants and 2,100 businesses turned off their lights for one hour to take a stand against global warming.
In 2008, the City of Edmonton took part in the event. This year, the City has signed up with World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and has become a flagship city in Canada. The Edmonton Police Service is participating by turning off non-essential lighting in all facilities for the hour.
Already 1,508 cities and towns in 80 countries have committed to flick off for this years’ Earth Day.
Turning lights off for one hour may seem like a small step, but it does have a large impact.
Sydney experienced a 10.2 per cent reduction in energy as a result of people and businesses turning off their lights for one hour in 2007. This was the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year!
So why do this? The purpose of Earth Hour is not only to reduce energy consumption, but also to raise awareness about climate change. By participating you are learning that with small changes you make in your everyday life, you can save energy, money, and most importantly—the environment.
The lesson should be that habits don’t have to be inconvenient or grand, even small changes can make a difference. The hope is that you take the small changes you make for this event and apply them to your everyday life at work and home. To learn more about Earth Hour, please visit these websites: http://wwf.ca/earthhour/ OR http://www.earthhour.org/
It seems that everywhere you go, there is mention of climate change, global warming, or greenhouse effects. Ever wonder what they are and where they come from? To find out, check out this website: http://flickoff.org/areweflicked/causes/greenhousegases
Wonder what you can do to help? Check out these websites:
http://www.co2re.ca/publications/residential/ OR http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Your-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions