How your Community Group can support Earth Hour

At 8.30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, hundreds of millions of people across the globe will
switch off the lights of homes and businesses for one hour – Earth Hour, the world’s largest
public action for the environment – acknowledging a commitment to go beyond the hour with
actions that benefit the planet in the year ahead. Your community group can make a great
contribution to this global pursuit of ongoing environmental change.

Community groups can support Earth Hour 2011 by firstly switching out the lights of their
premises and encouraging members and their local community to also participate. As local
influencers, community groups are positioned to be a driving force of actions beyond the hour
by leading, educating and encouraging local community members to make ongoing changes
to reduce their impact on the planet. Show your community you’re contributing to global
environmental change!

The following information outlines the various ways a community group can make an ongoing
Earth Hour commitment, be it big or small.

1) Switch off non-essential lights at 8:30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011

Turn off non-essential lights in your buildings, facilities and signage during Earth Hour 2011
from 8:30pm-9:30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011. Join other committed communities, local
councils and non-government organisations around the world in this global action.

For larger buildings, plan ahead with facilities and building managers to manage
the logistics of switching off non-essential lighting for Earth Hour 2011 –
including neon lights – in and around your properties.

2) Register your commitment on www.earthhour.org

Show your support for Earth Hour 2011 by signing up at www.earthhour.org
and sharing your ongoing actions for the planet with the people of the world.
It’s free and we’ll send you regular Earth Hour updates with inspiring actions
from people and communities across the globe.

3) Communicate Earth Hour to group members

Tell your members, associates and staff about your participation in Earth
Hour 2011 and any positive actions for the planet you are taking
that go beyond the hour.

Here are some simple ideas you could use:

• Inform group members through announcements at group

meetings.
• Display Earth Hour posters in buildings/facilities.
• Include a link to the Earth Hour website on your homepage or
host an Earth Hour banner on your website.
• Include the Earth Hour logo on monthly newsletters to group members, on
letterheads and in email signatures.
• Organise special activities and events for Earth Hour such as candlelight
parties or a scavenger hunt by torchlight. Be creative and make it fun!

Register your action beyond the hour at www.earthhour.org

To see how you can promote Earth Hour and your business’ active participation in this
worldwide event, please see the promotional materials available on our website at
www.earthhour.org, provided for your use for free.

4) Go beyond the hour in your community

Earth Hour is not just for one hour. It’s about making a commitment to ongoing change that
reduces your impact on the environment and celebrating your commitment to the planet with
the people of the world by participating in Earth Hour.

These are some of the ways your community group can start to reduce its impact on the planet
today as well as inspire others to do the same:
• Turning off lights after hours in offices or installing motion-sensor lighting.
• Installing energy saving light bulbs and devices (e.g. timers on lighting).
• Turning off printers, computers, monitors, microwaves and coffee machines at the
power points at the end of the day when unused for long periods.
• Switching your electricity to Gold Standard Green Power.
• Providing and encouraging staff to use recycling facilities.
• Involve your staff in everyday change. Elect Earth Hour Monitors for your
organisation, whose job it is to ensure lights are out and appliances are off standby at
the end of each working day.

When communicating with members, associates, staff and the broader community make sure
they are aware that your involvement in Earth Hour symbolises your commitment to go beyond
the hour with an action that benefits the environment.

5) Share your Earth Hour story with the world

What are you doing for Earth Hour 2011 and, more importantly, beyond the hour? Have you
been inspired by the actions of others? The Earth Hour website – www.earthhour.org –
provides a platform for you to tell the world what actions your community group is taking to
contribute to global environmental change.

Share your Earth Hour story with the world at www.earthhour.org.

Thanks for your support!

Register your action beyond the hour at www.earthhour.org