20 March 2008
Switched on about switching off
Earth Hour on 29 March is a step towards cutting energy use.
RMIT University is supporting Earth Hour, a global initiative aimed at cutting energy use and raising awareness about the steps necessary to combat global warming.
From 8 pm to 9 pm on Saturday, 29 March, businesses, organisations and households are encouraged to turn off all lights, except those needed for safety.
In the first Earth Hour, in Sydney last year, 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses turned off their lights, cutting that hour’s energy consumption by 10.2 per cent – the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year.
This year, cities involved include Aalborg, Aarhus, Adelaide, Atlanta, Bangkok, Brisbane, Canberra, Chicago, Christchurch, Copenhagen, Dublin, Manila, Melbourne, Montreal, Odense, Ottawa, Perth, Phoenix, San Francisco, Suva and Lautoka, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Toronto and Vancouver.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said RMIT’s involvement reflected its commitment to sustainability.
“The campaign seeks to measure the change in Melbourne’s greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging participants to aim for a 5 per cent reduction in the year following Earth Hour.
“It is very important that RMIT should be formally involved in Earth Hour 2008, given its prominent building ownership and presence in Melbourne.
“While Earth Hour is focused on the Melbourne CBD, our Bundoora and Brunswick campuses and our Hamilton site will also be participating, emphasising RMIT’s broad commitment to the initiative and its objectives.”
Supporting Earth Hour fits with RMIT’s commitment to working towards a more sustainable University.
For example, water use has been cut by 25 per cent since 2000, with more reductions planned.
RMIT is also stepping up its use of Green Power electricity. The environmentally friendly power will make up 15 per cent of RMIT’s electricity consumption in 2008, rising to 20 per cent in 2009.
Now, with Earth Hour, all RMIT staff and students can play their part by simply switching off all electrical appliances when leaving on Friday, 28 March, or on the day itself.
