[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UPDATED: City of Columbia to celebrate worldwide event, Earth Hour

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brenna Reed
Sustainability Educator
573-441-5526
bsreed at gocolumbiamo.com
or                                                              Barbara Buffaloe
Sustainability Manager                                                          573-817-5025 bab

UPDATED: City of Columbia to celebrate worldwide event, Earth Hour

COLUMBIA, MO (March 19, 2015) - **Event will take place at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19 in the Columbia City Hall lobby at 701 E. Broadway.

At 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, first-grade students from Lee Elementary will join Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Hoppe and other community members to kick off the local celebration of Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is a worldwide "lights out" event to raise awareness about climate change. Participating cities across the world turn off their lights for a "wave of darkness," due to the Hour being celebrated at the same time (8:30-9:30 p.m.) across differing time zones. While the "lights out" event is a significant part of the Earth Hour celebration, knowing how you can "go beyond the hour" is just as important.

"Earth Hour always falls the week of spring break in Columbia, so we like to kick off the event the week before to raise awareness," says Barbara Buffaloe, City of Columbia sustainability manager. "We love involving schools because they always bring a lot of energy to our sustainability efforts."

Lee Elementary students will bring handmade rockets from recycled materials to show off at the event and will recite a poem they have compiled about how they can go "Beyond the Hour." As a demonstration of their commitment to sustainable practices and going "beyond the hour," the students will walk to City Hall. Therefore, rain may cause them to reschedule their visit.

Going "beyond the hour" can mean many things, including using public transportation to reduce carbon emissions. COMO Connect will offer free rides Thursday, March 19, the day of Earth Hour kick-off and Saturday, March 28, the day of Earth Hour. Going "beyond the hour" will also help as the city competes for the $5 million Georgetown University Energy Prize. The CoMo Energy Challenge started measuring energy use in January and will continue through December 2016. All residential properties located within city limits, and city & Columbia public school facilities are included in the two-year competition to save energy.

In 2014, Columbia Water & Light reported the energy savings from Earth Hour were around 1 percent of the electric load, or the equivalent to 80 homes going without power for an entire day. Last year, there was evidence of the greatest energy reductions in the southeast and northwest parts of town.

Businesses and organizations that have pledged to go dark for Earth Hour 2015 are: The District, Makes Scents, Lincoln Financial Advisors, The Center Project and We Always Swing Jazz Series. If you are interested in taking the pledge to go dark for Earth Hour, please email bsreed at gocolumbiamo.com.

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Now organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), it has grown to engage more than 162 countries and territories worldwide. Earth Hour 2015 will be held from 8:30-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28. Be social and use CoMoEarthHour and YourPower to share pictures and stories about this year's event. www.gocolumbiamo.com/Sustainability/earth-hour.php/earthhour.org

About the CoMo Energy Challenge
The CoMo Energy Challenge is the city's local campaign for the Georgetown University Energy Prize. The Georgetown University Energy Prize is a nationwide competition among 50 cities to save energy. The Prize is $5 million awarded to the most successful community to further energy efficiency goals and programs. The CoMo Energy Challenge is based out of the Office of Sustainability, with many community partners including Columbia Public Schools. To find out more, visit comoenergychallenge.com. Be social and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @CoMoChallenge.



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