Emma Willard in the News

Earth Hour at EWS

March 26, 2008

mma Green and Sustainable, student-run community service groups at Emma Willard School, will take part in the second annual Earth Hour this March. Earth Hour is a global effort to raise awareness of environmental issues. On Saturday, March 29, at 8 pm, everyone on the Emma Willard School campus will turn off lights to acknowledge the power that would typically be used. The campus will be in darkness for one hour with only emergency lights in stairwells and on walkways. The students hope this will encourage everyone to make positive environmental changes in their everyday lives and hope to make a statement about energy conservation and consumption.

Earth Hour originated in Sydney, Australia. On March 31, 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in the city turned off their lights for one hour. This effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour—the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. Inspired by the collective effort of millions from Sydney, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

Media requests for information about Earth Hour at Emma Willard School should be directed to Susan Geary at sgeary@emmawillard.org, (518) 833-1786 until 4:30 p.m.on Friday, March 28. Contact the Security Office at (518) 833-1332 to visit campus during the event.