Flip the switch!
Your small actions make a big difference! A recent National Resources Defense Council study found that if each of us made simple, inexpensive energy conservation choices, we could reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 1 billion tons. That’s a lot of emissions – and a little extra change for your pocket, too. Why not begin by joining us for Earth Hour?
On March 27, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time, hundreds of millions of people around the world will turn off their lights to reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness about global climate change. This inspiring event originated in Sydney, Australia, and in 2009, nearly 4,100 cities in 87 countries participated. This year, more than 318 U.S. cities will turn off their lights – including Chicago. Downtown buildings will go dark for an hour, and at Shedd we’ll join the effort by turning off our exterior lights and those illuminating our dome.
At Shedd, we constantly rethink everyday actions to reduce our environmental impact from behind the scenes to on top of the roof. Since 2001, our commitment to energy efficiency has included installing motion sensors and timers to keep empty offices dark, and using new lighting controls in the Oceanarium that take advantage of the aquarium’s eastern exposure.
Take a few moments to flip the switch and make a positive difference. Check out the Earth Hour website to learn more and get started.
Posted by Susan Barton, Shedd facilities director
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