Join the town and take part in Earth Hour’s 2015 lights off campaign

Wed, 25 Mar 2015

Earth Hour begins at 8:30 p.m. on March 28, 2015

Are you ready to go dark? Earth Hour is all about reminding us of the importance of reducing energy consumption as we turn off the lights on Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 8:30–9:30 p.m. Energy conservation and environmental stewardship is a year-round priority for the town and staff will be joining the Earth Hour campaign by turning off all non-essential lighting at town facilities.

“Council and our residents are committed to energy conservation,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “Earth Hour provides a great opportunity to highlight our commitment to reducing energy consumption. I encourage residents to take part in Earth Hour and continue their energy conservation efforts. These efforts will ensure Oakville continues to be the most livable town in Canada.”

Non-essential lighting and marquee signs at town facilities and parking lots will be turned off where possible, without compromising public safety or interfering with services, to reduce energy demand during the hour.

Residents, businesses and community groups are encouraged to register their Earth Hour event on the Earth Hour website. Take a picture of yourself showing how you participated in Earth Hour 2015 and tweet @townofoakville or post on the Town of Oakville Facebook page.

Turning off your light is an easy way to get involved, but you can also turn down the thermostat; unplug the TV, microwave and computer. Why not enjoy the an hour of no power with a candlelight dinner, reading a bed-time story by flashlight, having an unplugged jam session, or taking a star-gazing walk.

The town’s environmental programs and policies ensure the Oakville community continues to be a leader in managing our ecological footprint. Several public events and new initiatives are great ways to learn about what we can all do to make Oakville the most livable town in Canada. Visit oakville.ca for information the following programs:

• Keep Calm and Adapt Emergency and Extreme Weather Preparedness event on May 9, 2015
• Annual Energy Conservation Fair on May 23, 2015
• Implementation of Oakville’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy
• Participation in the Partner’s for Climate Protection program
• Implementation of the five-year Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan for town facilities

For energy conservation tips you can apply in your home, visit the Oakville Hydro website.

Earth Hour is a global lights-out initiative created by the World Wildlife Fund to encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take accountability for their ecological footprint. Earth Hour 2014 took place in more than 7000 cities and towns in 162 countries and territories across all seven continents.