Halton Region says "Lights Out!" on March 28 in support of Earth Hour

On March 28, Halton Region will join communities around the world when it participates in the 2009 Earth Hour challenge to turn off lights and reduce energy use for one hour. Starting at 8:30 p.m., lights and non-essential electrical equipment at Regional facilities, that do not compromise public safety or interfere with essential services, will be turned off for one hour. Halton Region is also encouraging local residents and businesses to turn out the lights and non-essential electrical appliances to show their support for action on climate change.

In 2008, Halton Region residents saved 33.15 megawatts of power during Earth Hour – enough to power 33,150 homes for that hour.

“Halton Region is committed to the fight against global warming and climate change and Earth Hour is a great opportunity to take action and show that individual participation on a large scale can change our planet for the better,” said Regional Chair Gary Carr. “We are committed to doing what we can as an organization to reduce our impact on climate change.”

Earth Hour is a global initiative led by the World Wildlife Fund, in which cities, communities and individuals turn off their lights for one hour to symbolize their commitment to fighting climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1 billion people in 1,000 cities.

Participating in Earth Hour helps Halton Region address Theme 2 of its 2007 – 2010 Strategic Plan, Protect and Enhance our Natural Environment. Other initiatives being undertaken as part of this theme include:

• Landfill Gas Capture Project at the Halton Waste Management Site
• Waste diversion programs such as the Blue Box for recycling and the GreenCart for organics collection
• Halton’s Air Quality Program
• Halton’s Naturally Green Program
• Smart Commute Program to promote car-pooling for Regional staff
• Forest Management programs and services, and protection of the Region’s 1,645 acres of forest.
• Halton Region’s Land Stewardship Program for Natural Areas
• Halton’s Tree By-law
• Corporate initiatives to reduce energy consumption and use alternative fuels
• Involvement with and support for organizations such as the Halton Partners for Clean Air, the GTA Clean Air Council, and Partners for Climate Protection.

For more information about these and other initiatives, visit www.halton.ca. For more information about Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org

Support Our Sponsors