Singapore is not in the dark about Earth Hour’s global push to go ‘beyond the hour’ this year.
Businesses, retailers and even religious institutions are rolling out more green initiatives in addition to turning off the lights to support the movement.
The event, which will be officially observed from 8.30pm to 9.30pm tomorrow, began in Sydney as a one-city initiative in 2007 to raise awareness about energy conservation.
This is the third year that Earth Hour will be marked in Singapore, along with a record 130 other countries and territories.
A plus sign has been added to the bold logo imprinted with the world map this year. It now reads ‘60+’.
Among the notable landmarks that will dim their facades and non-essential lights are the Merlion, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore Flyer, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Suntec Singapore and The Fullerton Heritage properties.
Though scepticism over Earth Day being merely symbolic persists, observers see it as a launch pad for long-term change.
Mr Howard Shaw, executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, said: ‘Earth Hour demonstrates that one small action from an individual multiplied across the collective can make a significant impact. The plus sign in the logo this year urges you to think about what you can do outside of the 60 minutes.’
Some organisations are extending their lights-out hours, with 34 properties under CapitaLand switching off their lights from 8.30pm tomorrow till 6.30am the next day. The lights at Evangel Family Church will be turned off one hour earlier, at 7.30pm.
The cafeteria in the Wearnes Group headquarters will operate without electrical lighting from 11.30am to 2pm today. From next Monday, CB Richard Ellis’ Singapore staff will be encouraged to ‘Turn Off at Lunch’ - alluding to the dousing of corridor lights and computer monitors while employees are away at lunch.
Corporations and ordinary Singaporeans are also being urged to turn up their air-conditioning to 24 deg C and above.
City Developments will not only support this call, but will also turn off the air-conditioning of 70 per cent of tenants in its 13 buildings from 1pm to 1.30pm today.
Public educational efforts will also be stepped up. Exhibition panels will be set up by Changi Airport at Terminal 2’s Departure Hall to educate passengers and visitors about Earth Hour and provide tips on what individuals can do to protect the environment. The campaign will run from tomorrow until next Friday.
In the run-up to the event, sponsor Credit Suisse has a voluntary personal tree-adoption programme that has seen some 1,300 trees being adopted by 500 staff since last September.
Individuals at events across the island will be spurred to pledge their commitment towards adopting an eco-conscious lifestyle. From 3pm to 9.30pm tomorrow, the public will be invited to sign on a giant Earth Hour banner outside Hall 5 at the Singapore Expo.
They can also choose to light a tealight from 8pm onwards at the Celebrate Earth Hour@Orchard Road event, and pledge to use public transport, turn off electrical appliances when they are not in use and turn up their air-conditioners. Ten thousand of these tealights will adorn the shopping strip as more than 100 establishments along the stretch dim down at 8.30pm.
