An approximate 30 million people are expected to spend an hour in the evening tonight in pitch black. That's right, no lights.
Beginning at 8 P.M. today, March 29, in ChristChurch, New Zealand, people across the globe will participate in Earth Hour, a tradition which began last year to show how humans are connected to climate change. The event will begin at 8 P.M. in New Zealand, make its way westward to Australia, Manila, Dubai, Dublin, New York, Chicago, and end in San Francisco.
The World Wildlife Fund created the movement in 2007, a symbolic statement about climate change. Today, the movement has grown into a 27 country-wide event. During this hour in the dark, people are asked to replace energy inefficient light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
"World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Carter Roberts says:
"[The global event] will make a statement about our commitment to solve the climate change problem and symbolize the commitment that people will make throughout the rest of the year."" Time.com.
But really what matters when it comes to reducing the use of electricity in homes? Unused household appliances and electronics. Still plugged into electrical outlets, these household items continue to suck energy from the grid.
While it may seem efficient to simply turn off lights and appliances for an hour, people should unplug all appliances from outlets to get the true effect of the movement. Not willing to unplug? Switch to surge protectors, which can be switched off and shuts power at the source.
Critics of the movement are not far behind. An article from Time.com criticizes the event as much to do about nothing. It asserts that the only way to cut greenhouse emissions is an international initiative aimed at capping and charging for countries' climate pollution.
Go to The World Wildlife Fund for more information.