Squamish saves 2.2 per cent energy during Earth Hour

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: April. 3, 2012

The District of Squamish reduced its energy consumption by 2.2 per cent this year, a notch higher than what it saved during 2011.
Last year, the district had saved 1.49 per cent.

This puts Squamish in the 26th place out of 91 communities that were registered for the event.

The community with the highest reduction in consumption – 12.1 percent – was Revelstoke. Pemberton measured the second highest decrease at 6.8 percent. In total, 91 communities across BC registered their participation in Earth Hour.

British Columbians saved 121 megawatt hours of electricity and reduced the provincial electricity load by 1.67 percent during Earth Hour last night.

This would be equivalent of turning off about 9 million 12.5-watt LED light bulbs.

“I hope Squamish residents will set an example for others by taking this inspiration with them throughout the entire year,” said Mayor Rob Kirkham.

Earth Hour is hosted by the World Wildlife Fund. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

Canada’s own City of Toronto was the first to sign up and it wasn’t long before 35 countries and almost 400 cities and towns followed suit.
This is the fifth year of BC Hydro’s involvement in the event.