It has been 12 years since Earth Hour started as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney, Australia and since then, the movement had spread out to different countries around the globe.
The annual event has transformed into a pledge to save and protect Mother Earth; a commitment forged by individuals, companies, and organizations to switch off electricity use for one hour in solidarity with the global efforts to secure the future of nature.
Cebu City joined the initiative in 2010 to support the global call of combating climate change by promoting a low-carbon lifestyle.
Lights are off from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
During this one-hour stretch, candle-lit dinners, stargazing activities, or electricity-free concerts and music jams have been staged.
The Visayan Electric Company (VECO), the second largest private electric utility firm in the Philippines, recorded a power demand drop of 2.695 megawatts (MW) in 2018.
Data provided by Quennie Sanchez-Bronce, Veco reputation enhancement manager, recorded that the demand drop was at 3.102 MW in 2017; 2.839 MW in 2016; 4.631 MW in 2015; and 3.025 MW in 2014.
This data is based on the demand drop gathered in Veco’s franchise area which covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Talisay and Naga, and the municipalities of Liloan, Consolacion, Minglanilla and San Fernando.
Switching off your lights for an hour reduces energy consumption, a crucial step toward helping reduce the impact of global warming on the planet that we all live.
Last year, Cebu City celebrated Earth Hour with an estimated five thousand bicycle riders and hundreds of people gathered in Plaza Independencia for the annual event. Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmena led the ceremonial turning off and candle-lighting event last year.
This year marks another milestone for Cebu’s participation in the Earth Hour with heightened public awareness about climate change due to the concerted efforts of government agencies, the private sector, non-profit organizations, and individual endeavors.
Organized by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, this year’s Earth Hour falls on March 30, Saturday. Turn off your lights at 8:30 p.m. wherever you are in the world and make a pledge to protect the planet.
AboitizPower’s Cleanergy, which is the company’s brand for clean and renewable energy, goes beyond its name. It is a commitment to leaving a lighter impact on the earth’s climate and helping sustain its energy resources for the future.
Follow Aboitiz Power Corporation on their Facebook and on their website:https://aboitizpower.com/ to know more about the group’s investments in power generation, distribution, and retail electricity services.