Rhodes University staff and students will be joining forces to celebrate Earth Hour this Saturday, 26 March. Earth Hour is an international event, organized by WWF, involving close to 5 million supporters in over 100 countries around the world.
Staff and students in all departments, institutes, offices and residences are encouraged to turn off ALL unnecessary lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm on Saturday 26 March. Please bear in mind that lighting for security and essential services will remain on. In keeping with the theme this year, you are also encouraged to go `beyond the hour’… here are 10 tips for everyday living:
- Ensure that you switch off unnecessary lighting and appliances around your home or office.
- Don’t overcharge your batteries in your cell phones, laptops, shavers, or electric toothbrushes. Rather switch off the chargers at the plug as soon as the batteries are charged.
- Cut down on driving where possible by arranging lift-clubs to school or work, or using alternative transport to reduce traffic and harmful emissions whilst saving on petrol costs.
- Be waste-wise by recycling or starting a compost-heap. You’ll be sending less household waste to the landfill each week.
- Go for solar heating as an alternative to the electric heating of your geyser.
- Make sure your fridge is working efficiently by keeping it ¾ to fully stocked, cleaning the coils, and closing the door tightly.
- Ensure that your oven is efficiently used. Or switch to a gas oven.
- Replace traditional light bulbs with energy-saving ones through-out your home. Remember to recycle these light bulbs correctly.
- Become an eco-friendly shopper by making wise “green” consumer decisions and choosing reusable packaging.
- Use gas heating instead of electric heating in winter.
More info on www.earthhour.org.za
Rhodes University events organised with SEACC SF, GRASS and Astro Soc, will feature performances by Drum Soc, BUA and Voices of Glory in the Botanical Gardens. The evening will kick off at 6pm with a screening of the documentary GASLAND – at Eden Grove Red – followed by a short presentation on the proposed hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo. Moving across to the Botanical Gardens, Earth Hour celebrations will continue from 8:30pm until late. Entrance is free. Bring your own drinks and a picnic.