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Airdrie sees small decrease in power usage this Earth Hour

Airdrie residents used a fraction less energy during this year’s Earth Hour. FortisAlberta reported that compared to the same hour on March 19, 2011, Airdrie showed a 0.

Airdrie residents used a fraction less energy during this year’s Earth Hour.

FortisAlberta reported that compared to the same hour on March 19, 2011, Airdrie showed a 0.2 per cent or 332 kWh decrease in energy consumption during Earth Hour, held March 26 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The annual event started in March 2007 in Sydney, Australia, where individuals and businesses turned off their lights for an hour in order to raise awareness around climate change.

According to Kevin Haslbeck, communications advisor for FortisAlberta, the decrease is the equivalent of 369 houses turning off their power for one hour or powering 5,533 60-watt light bulbs for one hour.

“It shows people in Airdrie are into Earth Hour and thinking about the environment,” he said. “They are doing what they can to reduce energy and that’s the message we are trying to get out.”

Last year, Airdrie had a 3.6 per cent decrease in energy consumption from the previous week. In 2008 and 2009, Airdrie saw a four and five per cent increase in power usage during Earth Hour.

“Earth Hour is a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis,” said Haslbeck. “The past two years show that Airdrie is catching on.”

In Canada, 422 cities, municipalities and towns took part in Earth Hour 2011, compared with 304 in 2010. Another 73 universities and 30 major landmarks from across the country including the CN Tower, Parliament, Niagara Falls and the Lions Gate Bridge also took part in this year’s event.


Airdrie Today Staff

About the Author: Airdrie Today Staff

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