For one hour this Saturday, millions of people will be turning off electricity in their homes and businesses to shed light on the dangers of climate change.
Several businesses in Centretown will be observing Earth Hour, the one-hour global event promoted by the World Wildlife Fund, by switching off lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Kevin O’Donnell, provincial Green Party candidate for Ottawa Centre, says residents could be inspired by businesses leading by example.
“People realize that taking action and participating in these events isn’t for ‘other people,’” he says. “It’s for everybody.”
Hydro Ottawa says that last year, the electricity saved during Earth Hour was enough to power 58 Ottawa homes for a month.
“A lot of people still have doubts that their individual contribution really actually makes a difference,” says O’Donnell.
But with local businesses such as Bridgehead promoting the event, supporters hope that this year Earth Hour will be bigger than ever before.
Sage Mosurinjohn is a customer representative with Bridgehead and says she has seen the impact local support can have on a campaign like Earth Hour.
A small gesture, like putting an Earth Hour sticker on each cup of coffee, can get people interested in finding out more about the event, she says.
“It’s really about drawing attention to the cause,” she says. “It got people thinking about it.”
Tina Yazdani lives in Centretown and has participated in Earth Hour in the past. She says seeing Earth Hour promoted in her local coffee shop could help more people learn about the cause.
“For people who are a little bit older and don’t get the (Facebook) event invitations, it’s a good way to learn about it and do something,” Yazdani says.
When Earth Hour began in 2007, about 2.2 million people took part. Last year, there were about 1 billion participants, according to the event website.
While Earth Hour’s popularity has increased, there are still some who argue that its impact is exaggerated.
“Electricity is one of the blessings of modern civilization and society,” says Eric Darwin, president of the Dalhousie Community Association.
In order to really conserve energy, he says he feels there should be more effort towards increasing the cost of electricity.
“People respond to price signals a lot more, I think, than they do moral exertions,” he says. “I don’t think they achieve anything good by turning off their lights."
Earth Hour supporters, such as O’Donnell, say they are used to hearing criticism of their conservation efforts.
The real significance of Earth Hour cannot be measured in kilowatts or millions of participants, he says.
“The energy saved during that one hour is showing people how much we can save if we pay attention to conservation," he says.
Yazdani says she also feels that the one-hour event can show people the potential of small actions.
“The more people that do it, the better. So why not?” Yazdani says.