How To Support Earth Hour in Your Community, 2011
How To Support Earth Hour in Your Community, 2011
At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, hundreds of millions of people across the globe will
switch off the lights of homes and businesses for one hour – Earth Hour, the world’s largest
public action for the environment – acknowledging a commitment to go beyond the hour with
actions that benefit the planet in the year ahead. Your community group can make a great
contribution to this global pursuit of ongoing environmental change.
Community groups can support Earth Hour 2011 by firstly switching out the lights of their
premises and encouraging members and their local community to also participate. As local
influencers, community groups are positioned to be a driving force of actions beyond the hour
by leading, educating and encouraging local community members to make ongoing changes
to reduce their impact on the planet. Show your community you’re contributing to global
environmental change!
The following information outlines the various ways a community group can make an ongoing
Earth Hour commitment, be it big or small.
For larger buildings, plan ahead with facilities and building managers to manage
the logistics of switching off non-essential lighting for Earth Hour 2011 –
including neon lights – in and around your properties.
These are some of the ways your community group can start to reduce its impact on the planet
today as well as inspire others to do the same:
• Turning off lights after hours in offices or installing motion-sensor lighting.
• Installing energy saving light bulbs and devices (e.g. timers on lighting).
• Turning off printers, computers, monitors, microwaves and coffee machines at the
power points at the end of the day when unused for long periods.
• Switching your electricity to Gold Standard Green Power.
• Providing and encouraging staff to use recycling facilities.
• Involve your staff in everyday change. Elect Earth Hour Monitors for your
organisation, whose job it is to ensure lights are out and appliances are off standby at
the end of each working day.
When communicating with members, associates, staff and the broader community make sure
they are aware that your involvement in Earth Hour symbolises your commitment to go beyond
the hour with an action that benefits the environment.