In 2007 Earth Hour was created to encourage the global community to share in the opportunity of creating a sustainable world by sacrificing one hour of electricity. More than 2.2 million people and 2,000 organizations got involved and turned off their lights for one hour. This year's Earth Hour, which falls on March 29th between 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., marks the eighth year of the campaign. For those who want to participate in Earth Hour, but also want some fun and inventive ways to celebrate, we, at Williams and McDaniel, have put together a few ideas that will keep you entertained during Earth Hour.
Reconnect with Others
Take Earth Hour as an opportunity to catch up with family, friends and even neighbors. Invite everyone over for a candlelit games night or for a backyard campfire (weather permitting). Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue and Trivial Pursuit are all great game options to choose from and will make that hour fly by. Keep Earth Hour front and center by getting everyone at your get together to come up with their own ideas on how to save energy and make a positive impact on the environment.
Go Stargazing
With all the lights from buildings, homes and stores shut off you just might be able to catch a glimpse of the stars. Grab your binoculars, do a little background research on astronomy and check out the various constellations and planets with the kids. Not only is this educational, but you'll be surprised at how fast that hour goes by and how you won't want to go back in your house.
Join a Community Celebration
There are a ton of community events planned to celebrate Earth Hour. To see if there are any events close to you, or if you feel like posting your own event, visit www.EarthHourCanada.org.
Flashlight walk
Get moving and stretch those legs by going for a family walk around the neighborhood with a flashlight. If you want to take extra precaution, make sure everyone dresses in reflective clothes and add a bit of fun with some glow sticks for the kids and dog. As you're walking around the neighborhood, check to see who has their lights on and if they are on you can politely knock on the door and give them a heads up that it is Earth Hour.
Enjoy a No-Cook Meal
During the daytime prepare a no-cook family meal with local ingredients you already have in your fridge. This will ensure you have a delicious meal to enjoy during Earth Hour, while also staying true to the day's significance. Serve dinner by candlelight and talk about other recipes you can make in the future. During dessert, get the adults to share some ghost stories.
Energy-Saving Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt in your house to mark off areas where energy can be saved or slightly reduced. Highlighting spots where they can make a difference and placing flags and stickers where appliances can be unplugged will give the kids a good idea of how they can reduce their environmental impact.
Celebrate Earth Hour this year by shutting off the lights and enjoying some of these fun and interactive activities. You won't even notice Earth Hour is over because you'll be having so much fun! At Williams and McDaniel, we want our residents to enjoy every aspect of their rental experience and we hope these suggestions will make for an exciting celebration!