Earth Hour: How you can “switch off” for a sustainable future

Katie Preedy looks into Earth Hour’s annual campaign, addressing why it matters for the environment, and how you can get involved.

Over the years, people across the globe have founded a variety of incredible campaigns to help protect our planet, from Surfers Against Sewage and Energy Saving Week to Water Saving Week and Veganuary — and beyond. One particularly inspiring campaign that has gained a lot of traction over the last 18 years is Earth Hour.

Planet Earth from space with lights on across the globe. Photo credit: NASA on Unsplash.

 

 

So what is Earth Hour, and where did it all start?

Earth Hour is an initiative that supports the planet by raising awareness of the environmental issues affecting its well-being — in particular, the world’s collective energy consumption!

The first Earth Hour launched from Sydney, Australia, on 31st March 2007, when 2.2 million people all over the world turned the lights off for an hour to save energy. 17 years and a host of outstanding milestones later, over 180 countries across the globe contributed a whopping 1.4 million hours to the cause in 2024 - with a truly impressive outcome! If a 100W light bulb uses around 0.1 kilowatt (kW) an hour, and we take the average amount of light bulbs in a household (the number varies significantly around the world, so we’ll take the UK average, which is approximately 34), that means Earth Hour 2024 saved a staggering 4,760,000kW of energy alone.

This year, Earth Hour will be taking place on Saturday 22nd March at 8:30pm, from wherever you are in the world. So, why not flick the switch and get involved?

Why is Earth Hour so important?

Earth Hour matters now more than ever because of the ever-increasing consumption of energy across the globe, and the negative impact that this has — and will continue to have — on the planet.

Currently, 80% of the world’s electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. This activity releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change, which can have devastating effects on the environment, such as longer forest fire seasons, shrinking glaciers, and rising sea levels.

At the same time, a report from IEA found that the world will demand an additional 3,500 terawatt-hours of energy generation over the next three years, compared to now.Overall, this means that, if our approach to energy usage doesn’t change significantly and rapidly, the planet — and as a result, all life — will be at significant risk.

In fact, according to a 2018 study published in Earth System Dynamics, 2035 is the “point of no return” where, if radical change in energy production and consumption doesn’t happen, we’ll no longer be able to reverse the impact of climate change, and the results will be catastrophic.

How can you get involved in Earth Hour?

As mentioned before, Earth Hour will be taking place on Saturday 22nd March at 8:30 pm local time this year. To get involved, you simply need to turn off all the lights in your house for an hour, between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm! As well as this activity, there are lots of other ways you can get involved, which Earth Hour have shared on their website:

1. Give an Hour for Earth

Spend an hour doing something you love that’s also good for the planet – for example, going for dinner at a planet-friendly restaurant, doing some upcycling, or taking part in wildlife photography.

2. Engage your community

Earth Hour shares lots of great ideas for bringing your community together – whether that’s friends, family, colleagues, or classmates – to host #TheBiggestHourForEarth!

3. Earth Hour for Youth

This initiative encourages parents, teachers, and other educators to engage and empower people to become agents of change.

4. Learn about the issues

Take some time to learn about the issues affecting our planet, so that you can find more ways to protect it in your day-to-day life.

Lightbulbs and plants hanging from the ceiling. Photo credit: Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

What else can you do to help save energy (and the planet)?

There are plenty of things you can do beyond taking part in Earth Hour to make a difference and support the health and future of our earth and its inhabitants. The great news is that many of these things can be done with just a few tweaks to your daily routine and habits!

1. Only boil as much water in a kettle as you need to

The more water that you put into a kettle, the more energy it takes to boil. So, instead of filling it up completely, make use of the little “teacup” marker guide you can often see on kettles to approximate your tea/coffee round requirements! 

If you accidentally fill the kettle up too far, don’t worry. Simply pour the excess water into a watering can to hydrate any indoor and outdoor plants you have, or for any rewilding projects you’re involved in – all of which are also great for the environment, as they remove carbon dioxide from the air!

2. Turn lights off in a room if you’re planning to be out of it for more than 15 minutes

As Earth Hour shows, turning the lights off when you leave a room is key to saving energy. However, it’s best to leave a light on if you’re planning to come back into the room less than 15 minutes later, as flipping the light switch degrades the electrodes in a bulb, reducing its lifespan, and therefore requiring you to buy more light bulbs in future, which is also not great for the environment.

On the subject of light bulbs, you could also consider switching any traditional bulbs for LED ones, as these consume less energy.

3. Use “eco mode” on all your home appliances

Many of today’s washing machines, dishwashers, and other electrical appliances have an “eco” mode you can select to reduce the amount of energy they use to get the job done.

On a similar note, dry your washing on an outside washing line on warm, dry days, or on a clothes horse/radiator in winter if possible to avoid using a tumble dryer, which consumes a large amount of energy.

4. Take shorter showers

There are days where nothing short of a long, hot shower will make you feel fresh and rejuvenated, but try to keep these to a minimum to save energy. On the plus side, you’ll be saving water too, which is also a finite and precious resource!

5. Draught-proof your living spaces

According to Energy Saving Trust, 30% of heat loss in the average house is thanks to draughts, so draught-proofing your home is a great way to save energy. If you don’t have one to hand already, you can easily upcycle some old clothes or bedding to make your own draft excluder.

Earth Hour truly is a fantastic way to do your bit for the planet.

As shared on their website, Earth Hour draws its power from people — so, to multiply the impact of your efforts to save energy, be sure to spread the word and encourage others to get involved in Earth Hour and other energy-saving initiatives!

About the Author: Katie Preedy currently works as a content creator for a UK renewable energy company, combining her passion for writing with a desire for a happier, healthier planet. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, amateur dramatics, and sewing (including upcycling!).