Join us in shining a light on climate change for Earth Hour 2018. Millions of people around the world will power down their lights and electronics for one hour on Saturday, March 24 from 8:30 – 9:30PM local time.

Red River College is powering down for Earth Hour and we need your help. Non-essential lights will be turned off during the hour, and we ask that before you leave for the weekend you shut down your computers, unplug unnecessary electronics and turn off your lights.

Did you know that the College spends about $555,935 annually powering products plugged into AC outlets and lighting? Powering down lights and electronics when possible can save a lot of money!

Pledge to Power Down and Win

Because Earth Hour is on the weekend, we can make a bigger impact if members of our College community pledge to power down at home. This year, all staff, students and faculty who pledge will be entered to win a Earth Hour Prize pack: Enjoy a candlelit game night with friends or family with a gift certificate to a A Muse N Games, locally-made candles and some delicious organic snacks.

Earth Hour is done for this year. Thanks to everyone who pledged!

Participating in Earth Hour is not only a great way to show your support for a global initiative that is working to mitigate climate change, it really highlights how dependent we are on electricity by challenging us to find fun things to do without it! Some ideas of things you can do include:

• Play board games by candlelight
• Organize a candlelit (or no light) walk in your neighbourhood
• Go stargazing
• Host a sing-a-long
• Invite friends for a candlelit potluck

Power down year-round

Earth Hour is a symbolic event that sheds a light on a more serious issue. Our dependence on electricity and electronics is part of the problem leading to climate change. Below are some tips for how you can reduce your load at the College:

• Turn the lights off when you leave a room
• Power down before every weekend and holiday – set a reminder in your calendar or put a sticky note on the door to help remember
• Unplug battery chargers once your device is fully charged
• Unplug non-essential electronics when not in use: i.e. toasters, kettles, etc. – these items still use electricity even when turned off
• Keep another sweater at your workspace instead of using a space heater

For some tips on reducing your energy use at home, as well as information on rebates and other incentives visit Manitoba Hydro’s Power Smart site.