Hamilton residents urged to do their bit for Earth Hour

26 MARCH 2009
For immediate release

Hamilton residents are being encouraged to do their bit to support Earth Hour this Saturday [28 March] from 8.30-9.30pm as over 2000 cities prepare to take part in the global initiative.

Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock said that Earth Hour is a great way to raise public awareness about environmental issues and despite Hamilton being relatively small on the world scale, the city is committed to doing its bit to support the cause.

“While it may seem like the actions of one person or one city alone won’t have a significant impact, if everyone does their bit it is surprising how quickly it adds up to make a big difference,” he said.

Hamilton will be marking Earth Hour by ‘switching off’ in various areas of the city on Saturday night, including a section of street and decorative lighting on Hood Street, during the Balloons Over Waikato Earth Hour Nightglow at Waikato University, and for one minute at the beginning of Act Two of Shirley Valentine at Clarence Street Theatre.

Other local initiatives include the planting of 150 trees by a group of Hamilton Zoo staff at Waiwhakareke on Wednesday, 25 March, and the distribution of 1000 Ecobulb® energy efficient light bulbs to members of the public in the days leading up to Earth Hour. The Ecobulb light bulbs were donated by Energy Mad and are being distributed by Hamilton City Council at Waikato University on Wednesday, 25 March and in Civic Square, Garden Place on Thursday, 26 March from 12pm to help residents reduce overall power use, save money on their power bills and reduce peak demand.

Hamilton City Council Environmental Policy Advisor Aaron Fleming, who is a National Earth Hour Ambassador, said something as simple as switching to Ecobulb light bulbs is one way residents can make a difference.

“Small, sustainable behavioural changes like these all help – You don’t have to totally overhaul your lifestyle to feel as though you are making a stand,” he said.

Energy Mad Managing Director Chris Mardon said it was a good fit for the company to become involved in the initiative as Energy Mad and Earth Hour “share a common mission of saving energy and raising awareness of energy use”.

“Switching your light bulbs to Ecobulb® energy savers is a small but significant step anyone can make to help reduce unnecessary energy use and make a difference," he said.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message grew into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. This year Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal to have 1 billion people switching off their lights for the cause.

Hamilton's inaugural involvement with Earth Hour is the first flagship project to be delivered through the recently signed city-wide Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

For more information of Earth Hour visit www.earthhour.org

ENDS

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