What is Earth Hour by the way? Earth Hour is an event initiated by WWF in 2007, in the spirit of raising the awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.

How does it work? It is encouraged for all households and businesses to turn off non-essential lights and also electrical appliances for an hour, from 8.30 to 9.30 PM, on Saturday, March 28.

What significance will the event make? Energy saving for one thing. It was reported that during the Earth Hour last year, Bangkok decreased electricity usage by 73.34 megawatts, which, over one hour, is equivalent to 41.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide (Wikipedia, Earth Hour).

How is it related to the climate change? The carbon emissions will certainly decrease during that 1 hour. The general consensus is, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes to the climate change.

So, if I go dark for an hour will I save the earth? You will save money, that’s for sure. As to really saving the earth; it is just a small contribution to energy saving, which theoretically will reduce the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere, compare to the same duration of time, during the same time of day, on any other day. Will it actually delay or (even better) stop the climate change from occurring? I personally think it won’t do as far. What you will make out of the Earth Hour is you will be joining millions other people from around the globe to support energy conservation which will hopefully radiate a habit of energy saving.

It is obvious that the way we exploit the current energy source is way excessive and simultaneously polluting the earth. There’s just have to be a change in our habit in treating the energy and a change in the technology producing the energy. Earth Hour for me is also sending a message that fossils based energy should be ended soon because it’s just out of date. Green energy using solar, wind, hydro-power, bio-fuel and geothermal are the way to go. Let the fossils based energy be the thing from the past, just like fossil should. Oil and Gas companies should and must create R&D centers for the development of green energy because that is the future of energy. Prepare to become out of business if you don’t start now. I bet you that.

Earth Hour is indeed a symbolic event and over rated if it’s to stop the climate change. It may not solve the problem or may not even buying time. But it will sure convey a message. That something can be done in an hour. That nothing we do even just for 1 hour is insignificant. It’s the spirit that counts. So, come on people, join the Earth Hour and spread the message. But obviously don’t stop at that. You guys are too smart to think that 1 hour can save the earth. Find your own way to proliferate the climate change and sustainable energy issues and just keep doing that.

I just signed up for the Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org and feel good about it. Let the dark be our friend for once