Earth Hour Weekend is Coming to UoM

Starting as a symbolic lights out event in Sydney in 2007, WWF’s Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment worldwide, inspiring millions of people to take action for our planet and nature. Every year people, businesses and landmarks set aside an hour to host events, switch off their lights and make noise for the Earth Hour movement.

At the University of Melbourne, we're going one step further and asking YOU to help us celebrate Earth Weekend!

By turning off all non essential* lights, computers, monitors and appliances for the weekend starting on the afternoon of Friday the 29th March, you can help us significantly reduce our energy consumption and cut our carbon emissions.  Switching off, even for a short time, makes a difference - check out the stats from our previous switch off events.

Why do we need to take action?

Climate change is perhaps the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. As the effects of climate change accelerate, the most important thing we can do is reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the amout of carbon we emit.

While Earth Hour is just 60 minutes of action, it's impact is further reaching. It provides a catalyst for us to spark never-before-had conversations for action on climate change and most importantly demonstrates that small actions can collectively make a big difference.

As you’ll see from the graph from previous years, every small action(s) by each individual can collectively make a difference!

We need your help!

You can take part by encouraging your building, office or study space at the University of Melbourne to join Earth Weekend by switching off all non essential* lights, computers, monitors and appliances on the afternoon of the Friday 29th March 2019.

While we are encouraging all staff, students and departments to engage, Campus Services will also be turning off as many appliances they can behind the scenes. We will be doing extra walk arounds on Friday evening to cover all the missed appliances!  Help us by already having done it….

Let us know you are participating by emailing us: sustainable-campus@unimelb.edu.au

**IMPORTANT - Please note this does not include refrigerated appliances*. If any refrigerated and/or essential appliances are turned off there can be significant consequences for the university.

Disclaimer: If any appliances are accidentally switched off the University Insurance Office is obliged to require all Departments to contribute the first $10,000 for equipment damage and $20,000 for contents spoilage arising from their failure to maintain and secure the power to their refrigeration equipment during “Earth Hour”.