This Saturday people around the world will unplug for one hour between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. to support Earth Hour. Designed as a stand against climate change, the annual event began in 2007 when the Wildlife World Fun-Australia asked Sydney residents to turn off their lights for one hour. The following year, Earth Hour spread throughout out Australia, Canada and more than 30 other countries. In 2011, more than 135 countries participated.
Scheduled for the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour coincides with the equinox to ensure most cities are in the darkness during the specified time. I encourage you to read more about the Earth Hour here.
On a personal level, turning out the lights for an hour is pretty simple. For businesses, its a bit more complicatedbut it is doable. IStore Self Storage in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, will power down all non-essential electricity on Saturday. The facility will keep on its exterior lights, cameras and gate access, but will turn off computer equipment and lighting in the office. "Earth Hour is one of those things that make people realize that we are all sharing the world," facility manage Kelly Byrde said in a press release. If nothing else, by taking part in Earth Hour, at least you will save some money on your electricity bill.
Of course, being eco-minded should be an everyday thing, not just relegated to once a year. The self-storage industry has made huge strides in creating more sustainable facilities and operations with the addition of solar panels, cool roofs and recycling programs. You can read more about how the industry is going green on this ISS topics page.
How has your facility embraced eco-friendly practices? Have you added solar panels? Will you participate in Earth Hour this year? Add a comment below or join the discussion on this Self-Storage Talk thread.