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Town set to go dark for Earth Hour Saturday The Town of Halton Hills will once again join other communities around the world in participating in Earth Hour Saturday, March 27, by turning off any unnecessary lights. The objective of Earth Hour is to have as many individuals, businesses, organizations and governments participating as possible. Earth Hour registration is available at: www.EarthHourCanada.org. Earth Hour 2010 will be celebrated Saturday, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Its objective is to increase public awareness of the need todecrease energy use and to take action against climate change. Earth Hour participation is voluntary, fun and informative. In 2009, Earth Hour reached over one billion people as it was celebrated in over 4,000 cities in about 90 countries. Across Canada, in 2009, Halton Hills was one of nearly 300 participating Canadian communities. As one of the participating communities, the Town was very successful in its Earth Hour participation. In 2009, the community achieved a 13.5 per cent energy consumption reduction, representing nearly 8,000kWh or enough electricity to power about 6,500 homes for an hour. The 13.5 per cent reduction can also be translated into over 1,400 kilograms of greenhouse gas savings or the equivalent of not driving nearly 4,800 kilometres. This year, in support of Earth Hour, the Town will: · Be an official Earth Hour participant. In a show of support, the Town will turn off all non-essential lights at all Town facilities during Earth Hour, without jeopardizing public safety and security, and interrupting regular service. · Celebrate Earth Hour on Friday, since Town hall is closed during Earth Hour on Saturday. Similar efforts will be encouraged at local businesses and schools. · Host a free family movie matinee at the Gellert Community Centre at 2 p.m. on Saturday. (Participants had to register by March 22). · Collaborate with the business community to (i) assist businesses in promoting Earth Hour to their employees and customers; (ii) encourage restaurants to offer special Earth Hour menus; and (iii) encourage special pricing on energy conservation items such as clotheslines and programmable thermostats. · Encourage Earth Hour registration by drawing for Earth Hour gift baskets. · Purchase green power from Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, to offset a portion of the Town's energy use during Earth Hour. For more information on the Town's participation in Earth Hour, please contact Damian Szybalski (Sustainability Coordinator) at 905-873-2601 ext. 2289 or at damians@haltonhills.ca. 5 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, March 25, 2010 Halton schools taking part Both the Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board are encouraging its schools to join communities around the world in support of Earth Hour 2010 on Saturday, March 27 from 8:30-9:30 p.m. to show it is possible to take positive action on climate change. Once again, the Ontario Ministry of Education, together with the sponsoring organization, World Wildlife Fund, has invited all schools and school boards to participate. Halton schools will lead into Earth Hour on Friday, March 26 by taking the following steps: · Registering their participation at http://wwf.ca/earthhour or www.EarthHourCanada.org and committing to turning off all non-essential interior and exterior lights before going home on Friday night. · Celebrating Earth Hour in schools on March 26 by reading environmental quotes, stories, articles or plays, or songs with an environmental message during morning announcements, encouraging "waste free" lunches, screening environmental films and/or using exterior signs to promote Earth Hour · Turning off as many electric devices as possible during the final hour of school on Friday. · Encouraging involvement at home Send us your Earth Hour photos Doing something interesting during Earth Hour? Then send us a photo and we'll print a selection of them in an edition next week. Send photos in a high resolution jpeg format to jmcghie@independentfreepress.com by 9 a.m. Monday. Please include details about the photo (i.e. where it was taken) and ensure everyone in the picture is identified. LAST WEEK! Propane or Natural Gas Eco Rebate $750. CALL NOW! FREE FireGenieTM Remote Control or FREE Propane or Natural Gas Eco Rebate $750. SAVE up to an $566* US PLan additional $750 ASK US HOW Don't Pay till Sept. 2010* Wood Blower or Brick Panel Keep yourself warm with a high efficiency Regency fireplace - you will think of them as furnaces with a view! *Purchase your Regency wood or gas fireplace, stove or insert and for a limited time receive a FREE Blower/Remote Control/Brick Panel (up to $566. value). See in store for promotions details. O.A.C. www.regency-fire.com APPLEBY SYSTEMS 877-8990 Fireplace, Heating & Air Conditioning Sales & Service 118 Guelph St. Georgetown (at Maple) Hours: Monday - Friday 9-5; Saturday 11-4; Appointments available after hours upon request