This Saturday, March 23, at 8:30 p.m., millions of like-minded people around the world will participate in Earth Hour. Started by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is one hour that on the same day everyone turns off their lights in order to focus on protecting the environment, conserving resources, sustainability and climate change.
Our own Louisville Metro government, at the request of the Chair of the Metro Council’s Sustainability Committee, Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh, will be participating this year, as city-owned buildings go lights out for one hour. The city will monitor the reduced energy use and tabulate the savings, both in energy expenditures and cost savings.
Said Mayor Fischer, ““The city is excited to participate in this challenge and it aligns with our community’s goal of sustainability. Taking the first step is as easy as turning off your lights, and I challenge local businesses and residents to participate in Earth Hour, so that together we can make a real
The Office of Sustainability, created by Mayor Fischer, is responsible for improving and enhancing the environment and the environmental practices in the Louisville Metro area. Its key functions are:
- Development of policies and guidelines within Louisville Metro Government to both reduce cost and encourage behavior change.
- Coordinate and collaborate on economic, social and environmental issues related to sustainability.
- Establish public-private partnership opportunities to improve community sustainability.
- Attract green industries and jobs to the Metro area.
So, it would seem that participating in Saturday’s Earth Hour is completely in sync with the city’s sustainability goals.
Will I sign the pledge and sit in the dark for an hour on Saturday night?
Probably not.
Or, if the lights are out, I will probably have the television on, feeding my addiction to reruns of “The Big Bang Theory.”
However, I am pleased that my local government is participating in Earth Hour.
Who knows? Maybe I will go lights out as well, last minute.
For more information on the Office of Sustainability, go to Louisville Metro Office of Sustainability .
For more information on Earth Hour, go to World Wildlife Fund .
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock/Vaclav Volrab
