CITIZENS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN EARTH HOUR

Sarasota, FL. Saving our planet from global warming: It starts with a flip of the switch. The City of Sarasota invites everyone to participate in Earth Hour on March 29th from 8pm to 9pm. During this pre-Earth Week event, households and businesses are encouraged to turn off their lights for one hour.

“Unplug everything you don't need, turn off the lights, and go for a walk with your neighbor, your family, your friend, your pet,” says Michele Mician, the City’s Neighborhood and Environmental Coordinator. “Enjoy the sounds of the earth in that hour and then take a pledge to make one hour an Earth Hour everyday.”

Lighting makes up about 11% of the average household energy bill. Turning the lights off for Earth Hour is a great first step towards savings. Simple actions like turning off appliances while not in use and switching to energy efficient bulbs, unplugging your cell phone charger, unplugging your TV and turning down your air conditioning will help reduce annual emissions.

Last spring, more than 2 million Sydney, Australia businesses and homes turned off their lights for one hour, marking the first Earth Hour. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses participated, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world. By making Earth Hour a worldwide event, it sends a powerful national and global message that it’s possible to take action on global warming.

The City of Sarasota encourages its estimated 24,000 households to participate in Earth Hour. One of the City's top priorities is sustainability and environmental protection. For more information contact: Michele Mician at 941-954-2670.

For more information, please contact:
John Nopper, Public Broadcasting Coordinator 941-954-4160
John.Nopper@sarasotagov.com