Eath Hour Pledge

An ‘Earth Hour’ pledge will be rewarded with free energy light bulbs - courtesy of Energymad  at Wanaka and Queenstown on Friday, Queenstown Lakes District Council arts and events facilitator Jan Maxwell said.

Queenstown and Wanaka will be joining the 44 New Zealand towns and cities which have signed up to celebrate Earth Hour at 8.30pm on Saturday night.

As of today there are 2,398 cities and towns from 83 countries which have pledged to support the earth by ‘switching off’ at 8.30 across the planet.All participating towns including Wanaka and Queenstown can be viewed on the international website

Sustainable Wanaka and Wanaka Wastebusters will participate in the bulb giveaway, together with the Council.

“You can visit the Council on Friday in Wanaka or Queenstown and sign a pledge to ‘switch off’ and in return you will receive the bulbs,” Mrs Maxwell said.

The bulbs could also be collected at the following venues on Friday and Saturday:
• Wastebusters (9am-4pm),
• Wanaka Library (10am–5pm - must borrow a book!),
• New World (10am-6pm).
• Earnslaw Park, Saturday, (8.30pm-9.30pm).

“The Council will also hold a very informal celebration at Earnslaw Park with many of the CBD lights out, where practical, to mark the hour,” Mrs Maxwell said.

People were encouraged to bring a candle and join in the vigil.

“Or families can make their own contribution to earth hour at home by switching everything off for the hour,” Mrs Maxwell said.

An hour spent by candlelight was a chance have a conversation and check out the night sky, she said.

Fact:
• 19% of the world’s electricity is used up in lighting

• Eco-bulbs use only one-fifth of the power of a regular bulb and last longer.