Turn off your lights—Earth Hour: March 28, 8 pm

BC Hydro is a world leader in energy conservation, and has become an active participant in Earth Hour 2009. BC Hydro encourages residents, businesses and organizations in BC to turn off their lights and other electricity-consuming devices for one hour on Saturday, March 28, from 8 to 9 pm.

Earth Hour, run by the World Wide Fund for Nature, was created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced: global warming. On March 29, 2008, British Columbians saved 125 megawatts of electricity during Earth Hour, the equivalent of turning off 2.5 million lights. BC Hydro calculates the overall reduction in load was approximately an average of two per cent throughout the entire hour.

If everyone who participated in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 29 from 8-9 p.m. did the same thing every Saturday night, the combined savings would be enough to power 573 homes for an entire year. If British Columbians were to take the same energy conservation measures for one hour every evening, the combined savings would be enough to power more than 4,000 homes for an entire year.

BC Hydro was a supporter of Earth Hour 2008, a global effort to take action on climate change. The World Wildlife Fund began Earth Hour 2007 in Sydney, Australia. In 2008, cities and countries around the world participated including 52 cities and towns in B.C.

Residents, businesses and organizations in BC can participate by:

1. Turning off all unnecessary lights and other electricity-consuming equipment at 8 pm for one hour, on Saturday, March 28.
2. Signing up at www.bchydro.com to receive information on how to be more involved in Earth Hour, including useful tools and tips.
3. Encouraging friends to participate and sign up online at www.bchydro.com.

To learn more about ways to conserve energy in everyday life, as well as BC Hydro’s Power Smart residential programs such as mail-in rebates, the refrigerator buy-back program, ENERGY STAR windows, PST exemptions and Power Smart New Homes, visit www.bchydro.com/powersmart.