Take Action Burlington

In 2007, residents in Sydney, Australia created a movement by turning their lights off for one hour in support of climate change. This marked the beginning of Earth Hour.  The following year, 35 countries participated in this World Wildlife Fund initiative and last year, on Earth Hour’s 10^th anniversary, millions of individuals, businesses and organizations from a record 187 countries and territories took part. Burlington’s Brant Street Pier was one of over 3,100 landmarks that was turned off during Earth Hour.

This year, Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 24 at 8:30 p.m. local time and the focus is #Connect2Earth.

What is the City of Burlington doing during Earth Hour?

We will do our part and unplug or reduce the use of:

• Lighting where facilities are closed (some lights are required to be left on for safety and fire code reasons)
• Arena refrigeration plants (compressors, condensers, brine pumps, etc.)
• Exhaust fans/air handlers and heaters in viewing stands
• The Brant Street Pier lights will be off between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Of course streetlights and traffic control signals will continue to operate as normal for safety reasons.

What is the City of Burlington doing year round?

• Implementing the corporate and community energy plans with annual reports to council
• Publically reporting annual energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
• Raising awareness about our programs and initiatives through our Take Action Burlington blog and environment webpage
• Providing opportunities for you to grow your own food at one of the city’s five community gardens
• Working in partnership with Mohawk College and the City of Hamilton to establish the Bay Area Climate Change Council

What can you do to #LiveGreenBurl and #Connect2Earth?

• Check out the January Take Action Burlington blog posts at TakeActionBurlington.ca for 18 Ways to Show You Care for Our Planet in 2018.
• Grow your own food. The Sustainable Development Committee’s Urban Agriculture event can provide some tips. It takes place at Burlington Public Library – Central Branch on May 3.
• Watch, learn and take action. Attend one of BurlingtonGreen’s Eco-Film Festival events, such as Chasing Coral on March 21.
• Participate in Burlington’s annual community clean-up event hosted by BurlingtonGreen on April 21. Schools and businesses may participate from April 16 to 20.
• Roll up your sleeves and help plant some trees at Tuck Park on April 21 from 1 to 4 pm.
• Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint and save money by visiting GreenOn.
• Reduce heating and hot water costs with tips from Union Gas.
• When it’s time to replace your existing vehicle, consider an electric vehicle which is now eligible for up to $14,000 in incentives. Visit Plug ‘n Drive’s EV Discovery Centre in Toronto for a test drive and to learn more about EVs.

Did you know?

• While transportation accounts for 30 per cent of the energy used in Burlington, it represents 40 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions. Consider leaving your vehicle at home and enjoying the outdoors by walking or cycling to destinations under five kilometers.
• When you leave your devices plugged in even though you’re not using them, you are using phantom or standby power which can account for up to 15 per cent of your annual home electricity consumption. The solution? Turn off or unplug the source of electricity that powers your device.

Take Action Burlington! Collectively we can make a difference to reduce our impact on our climate and be kinder to our planet!