LightsOut Ohio April 22
LightsOut Ohio, organized by Sierra Club’s Portage Trail Group, is seeking businesses, schools and churches to pledge to switch off non-essential lights for at least one hour on Earth Day, April 22, as a simple step toward making energy saving choices every day. The second annual one-day energy conservation event, formally known as LightsOut Akron, is expanding the geographic scope of its name to broaden outreach and generate more awareness.
This year’s LightsOut event focuses more on reaching into workplaces, government agencies and schools to conserve energy during the day by depending on natural lighting for at least one hour of daylight operation. Like last year, people at home are encouraged to turn off non-essential lighting from 8-9 p.m. Many churches will also convey the importance of energy conservation by turning off non-essential lights for services the Sunday before Earth Day.
Energy conservation programs in schools and workplaces can benefit these organizations in the form of cost savings in addition to benefiting the planet. Plus, these programs can support energy conservation measures in the homes by providing information and incentives that can help both homeowners and renters save on electricity and heating.
LightsOut Ohio will be circulating energy conservation tips for homes through these participating organizations. For schools, the LightsOut Ohio web site will also have grade appropriate lesson plans on both energy production and energy conservation. These lesson plans have been selected by a panel of leading local science educators. Several major school districts and individual schools have signed up to turn off non-essential lights on Earth Day.
As an extension of the educational initiatives LightsOut Ohio has partnered with Acme Fresh Market to involve younger generations by holding a coloring contest among grades kindergarten through fourth, from March 28 - April 18. LightsOut Ohio is also teaming up with Environmental Akron, a student organization at the University of Akron, to engage students, faculty, and administration.
Visit the LightsOut Ohio website at www.LightsOutOhio.org for special registration forms for workplaces, schools, places of worship and individuals. Those who register will receive environmental tip sheets, assistance in implementing the event within an organization and reminders to turn off lights on Earth Day. Participating workplaces will receive a frameable certificate.
For more information visit www.LightsOutOhio.org.