News Archive

Earth Hour, the environmental campaign created in Australia and taken up by the world, will take place this Saturday 26 March, when participants from over 128 countries will take the collective action of ‘lights out' for one hour at 8:30pm.

To play a part in this global event UWA has a goal to reduce its weekend energy use by 10 per cent, going beyond the hour to include the entire weekend.

Associate Director of Built Environment, Dr Helen Whitbread said a 10 per cent reduction in power was equivalent to the entire energy use of a small UWA building over a month.

"It would save 56,384 tonnes of carbon emissions, equal to driving a car for 180,000kms. It would also save $2080 on the University's energy bill," she said.

To achieve this reduction staff and students are asked to take the following actions before going home on Friday, 25 March:

1. Shut down your computer and turn off your monitor.
2. Turn off unnecessary devices and equipment.
3. Elect a colleague or yourself to switch off lights, air-conditioning and communal equipment, such as printers and photocopiers at the end of the work day.
4. Abstain from switching off equipment if it would hinder experiments or background operations etc. If in doubt consult your supervisor.

Any reduction in the energy use of Crawley campus, over the Earth Hour weekend, will be analysed using Facilties Management's energy measurement systems with comparisons to other weekends on campus. Results will be posted online.

Earth Hour competition

Participants in this initiative will be entered in the draw to win a $150 dinner voucher at environmentally friendly restaurant The Greenhouse Perth . To enter, declare your participation to Trish Howard . Make sure someone witnesses you taking steps 1 and 2, or be able to prove your involvement in some way.

For more information contact Trish Howard, Communications and Engagement Officer, UWA Facilities Management | Sustainable Development, telephone (+61 8) 6488 7540, email [email protected] .

Sustainable Development, Ken and Julie Michael Building, 7 Fairway, Crawley Campus. M458.

For more information on Earth Hour visit: www.earthhour.org.au

For more information about The Greenhouse Perth visit: www.greenhouseperth.com