City of Baltimore Earth Hour Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 26, 2010

Baltimore City to Dim the Lights and Lend Support for Earth Hour at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27

BALTIMORE, MD. (March 26, 2010) – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the City of Baltimore recently announced that they will turn off non-essential lighting for Earth Hour.

Earth Hour, which takes place Saturday, March 27th at 8:30 P.M. local time, is an event in which millions of Americans will turn out their lights for one hour in support of action on climate change and toward creating a cleaner, safer and more secure future. 2010 marks the third year of the event, which attracted more than 80 million participants in the U.S. last year, and nearly a billion people around the world, as lights dimmed on such global icons as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney’s Opera House, the Great Pyramids of Gaza and New York’s Empire State Building.


The Baltimore Earth Hour is being led by Mayor Rawlings-Blake, the Office of Sustainability, the Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge, The Department of Planning, The Department of General Services, The Department of Public Works, Cleaner Greener Baltimore, and the Mayor’s Office. Participation in Earth Hour is a money-saving project that serves as an educational forum demonstrating how to reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions. All of which are goals of the Baltimore Sustainability Plan and the Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge. Minor changes in the way you use electricity in the home, such as turning off and unplugging your appliances, could end up saving you more than six percent on your bill each month. By reducing energy consumption by 15%, the average home in Baltimore could save over $250 per year.

The Mayor encourages residents and businesses to join the effort. Participating in Earth Hour is easy, fun and FREE. To sign up, visit https://www.myearthhour.org/home where individuals can learn more, including ways you can spread the word about Earth Hour, plus creative things to do when the lights go out in case you need inspiration!

For more information please contact Brett Buikema, Baltimore Office of Sustainability at 410-396-1670. Let's all turn out and take action on March 27 at 8:30 P.M.