EARTH HOUR IN ACTION

Wayne Guppy
Mayor, Upper Hutt City

On Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm, many communities are encouraging everyone to turn off their lights for Earth Hour, a global action against global warming.

The Upper Hutt City Council is giving away over 8,000 energy efficient light bulbs (donated by Energymad) in the days leading up to Earth Hour. Residents have been invited to pick their free Energymad 13W Ecobulb from Council offices and venues in the few days prior to “Earth Hour “

“I believe if everyone in Upper Hutt changes even one standard light bulb to an energy efficient bulb, we’re making a big contribution, not only to decrease their own power bill and New Zealand’s energy use, but globally as well,”

Energymad has advised that changing all the light bulbs in a home to energy efficient light bulbs could save you around $3200 over the lifetime of the bulbs, not to mention decreasing overall power use and in so protecting valuable natural resources.

Several local schools have set homework for their students to make an Earth Hour poster, some of which are being in displayed in Upper Hutt at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre.

“Our parents grew up conserving and in the current economic climate it makes perfect sense to go back to that. Not only will we save energy, but we’ll save money on our power bills as well. It’s a win, win situation.”

Earth Hour began two years ago in Sydney, when much of the city turned off their lights for one hour, including Sydney's Harbour Bridge and Opera House, as an action to show the city’s support for action against global warming. Now it's Upper Hutt's turn to show their support for the earth by turning off their lights.

It has been a example of our Council working in close partnership with the Community to promote a very worthwhile initiative.

Petronella Lazet-Polman, a local resident of Upper Hutt and community leader of Earth Hour says “this has been a journey of becoming more conscious around energy use not only for myself, but for my community. Now I’m really committed to conservation as a whole – it’s not just about the lights, but about not being wasteful at all.”

Upper Hutt is one of 1,672 official cities, towns and municipalities worldwide who are committed to Earth Hour.

“ It makes sense to turn off your lights for Earth Hour - not only to look after our environment that we will give to our future whanau, but to save money in the short term too. Carpooling, composting, growing your own vegetables and turning off appliances when you don't need them, are all a part of this."

To find out more about Earth Hour or to register your support visit I ask that you check out www.earthhour.org.nz Join the world in turning off your lights between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on Saturday 28 March!