Communities Urged To Participate in Earth Hour March 28 to Promote Energy Savings

The PA Outdoor Lighting Council is promoting an international environmental event to raise awareness about energy usage and waste. The event, called Earth Hour, will take place at 8:30 p.m. March 28.

 

“With the simple flip of a switch, citizens, municipalities and businesses around the world will be shutting off their non-essential lighting for an hour to demonstrate their commitment to supporting action on climate change” Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council President Stan Stubbe said.

 

Earth Hour first started in Australia in 2007, as a way of reminding people that unnecessary lighting wastes money and energy, adversely impacting the environment. The Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council is encouraging area municipalities to pass resolutions in support of Earth Hour, having businesses along with residents switch off non-essential lighting for that hour to demonstrate their commitment. The 2009 Earth Hour event aims to reach one billion people in 1,000 cities worldwide.

 

The lighting council website provides information on the upcoming Earth Hour program, including a model resolution your municipality can adopt in support of this worthy effort.

 

Information is also available concerning Outdoor Lighting Workshops scheduled for April 29 in Lancaster County and May 12 in Chester County.

 

For more information, contact DEP's Jim McTish at 484-250-5180 or send email to: jmctish@state.pa.us.