Earth Hour

Earth Hour 2010

Earth Hour 2009

Well done to everyone who switched off lights and non-essential appliances over Earth Hour.

More than 53 million people in 371 cities joined in the third global Earth Hour. Over 1,000 landmarks, including Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, the lights of Las Vegas and Big Ben, went dark for the hour.

Many iconic landmarks such as the London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House were in darkness for the hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm, local time, on Saturday 28 March 2009.

In Oxford, the City Council switched off all non-essential lights and equipment over the weekend.

Oxford University Computing Services turned off all its lights for Earth Hour.

Kate Aydin, the University Sustainability Officer, says: "I'm really pleased that we are taking part in Earth Hour. The staff in OUCS are dedicated to energy saving and they are setting a good example for the rest of the University."

Oxford University Undergraduate Admissions supported Earth Hour and all staff turned off computers, monitors, copiers and lights.

Oxfordshire County Council joined in by encouraging those in County Council buildings who don't already switch off lights and equipment at night to do so over Earth Hour weekend.

The Midcounties Co-operative got staff to turn down lights at its sites and encouraged its 40,000 members to switch off lights and appliances at home over Earth Hour.

Oxford Brookes University turned off lights at its Headington Campus and staff and students were encouraged to turn off all non-essential equipment over Earth Hour.

Oxfordshire's Primary Care Trust (NHS Oxfordshire) gave staff suggestions about what they could do to reduce energy use at work and at home over Earth Hour.

Local schools such as Headington School and Wolvercote Primary also celebrated the global switch-off.

Find out more about what happened around the world at: http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk.

Page last reviewed 16 Mar 2010