For a 16th year, cities in nearly 200 countries are encouraging residents to shut off the lights and any unneeded appliances for a single hour this weekend.
The global movement that began in Australia in 2007 has stretched to the Tri-Cities in hopes of spreading its message of climate change, how to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Earth Hour is set for Saturday (March 26) from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the organization advises residents to use the 60 minutes to participate in planet-friendly activities with loved ones.
Coquitlam is set to participate by turning off the column lights along Pinetree Way, the guiding lights at each SkyTrain station and the Lafarge Lake fountain.
"The annual event dovetails with the city’s climate change efforts, which include developing long-range plans, actions and targets for conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gases within the organization and broader community," explains Erin Desautels, Coquitlam's environmental sustainability manager.
"Coquitlam residents who want to join in Earth Hour to show their support of the planet have a variety of options at home, in the community or online."
BC Hydro stopped recording electricity usage during Earth Hour in 2019 after seeing a spike for the first time in decade.
Province-wide, in 2018, electricity use rose by 0.2 per cent. In the Lower Mainland, electricity use rose by 0.5 per cent.
Earth Hour's website suggests the following activities to consider if residents choose to turn off the lights Saturday night:
- Reconnect with nature
- Grab flashlights for a night walk and gaze at the stars
- Enjoy a planet-friendly, waste-free meal with family and friends by candlelight
- Up your knowledge
- Use the hour to learn more about the planet and climate change
- Get active
- Enjoy a night run, dance to your favourite playlist or practice yoga
- Discover your artistic side
- night photography, glow-in-the-dark non-toxic paint, or creatively re-use something instead of trashing it
BC Hydro customers interested in seeing how much they saved by participating in Earth Hour can view an hourly breakdown of their electricity use for Saturday evening by logging onto their online MYHydro account.
For more information and conservation ideas, visit powersmart.ca.
