Brock’s campus will go dark for an hour on Saturday, March 25 in order to shed light on the importance of energy conservation and environmental sustainability.

The University will mark the 11th annual Earth Hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. with several energy-saving initiatives on campus.

The worldwide event encourages people to reduce their energy usage, beginning with an hourlong blackout. It’s meant to raise awareness of the environmental impact of energy consumption and to promote conservation.

Brock has been working for several years to reduce its environmental footprint and to educate students about being environmentally aware.

To mark Earth Hour, the lights illuminating the Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock statue, as well as the main campus entrance sign, will be turned off, and lighting will be reduced in parking lots T, U and V.

The Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex and the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts will be turning off all non-emergency lighting, where safe to do so.

While staff, faculty and students are encouraged to participate in Earth Hour by switching off all unnecessary lighting within their areas, they are asked to do so only when it is safe and are reminded not to use candles.

Facilities Management continues to examine and implement new initiatives for the ongoing conservation of energy, while recognizing personal safety.

Anyone with questions or suggestions regarding the initiative is asked to contact Customer Service Co-ordinator Joanne Phelan at ext. 3717, ext. 3905 or facilitiesmanagement@brocku.ca, or to contact Electrical Services Manager Dave Corbett at ext. 6201 or dcorbett@brocku.ca.

(Story by fourth-year Business Communication student Jennifer Nicholson)