March 2008

Recall the early “lights out” time of your youth while raising awareness for energy conservation as Pasadena goes no-/low-light for a couple hours in support of Earth Hour 2008, a global campaign to turn lights off from 8 to 9 p.m. on March 29th.

“We want to change people’s behavior and get them to start being more environmentally conscious,” said communications manager for the Pasadena Department of Water and Power Erica Roluff, who helped organize the evening. “One of the simplest things you can do is turn off your lights.”

City Hall will go dark for that hour most noticeably, and that energy can be transferred into walking to a few light-saving events—in 20 minutes or less as it was designed—like traditional Japanese drumming by the Taiko Center of Los Angeles, a dance performance by Lineage Dance, folk music by Bill Welden and Kelly MacLeod, storytelling in the dark with Nick Smith, a sing-along in the dark with Craig Newton, stargazing on the San Rafael Library terrace with telescopes, not-so-scary stories in the dark with the Patchwork Players and Compact Fluorescent Light distribution at all four event locations.

Some community members have created their own events to join in on like the residents of Monte Vista Grove retirement community who will gather around a candle and sing hymns and pray for the Earth in their meeting room and then go door-to-door singing in their facility, or the Arthur Murray Dance Center that will offer a free “Tango in the Dark” lesson and party. Ruloff also encourages people to create their own at-home events like dinner by candlelight if they want to stay in.

Go to http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/waterandpower/lightsOut/ for specific event locations, times and energy-saving ideas.