Bloomington will turn out lights for climate change

Around the world, cities will go dark this weekend in an effort to save the environment.

Earth Hour is a worldwide campaign to stop climate change, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Started by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour urges people to turn off their lights for one hour.

With cities across the globe participating, Bloomington is no exception.

Adam Wason, city of Bloomington’s assistant director for small business and sustainable development, said Bloomington has been working with IU, as well as the Monroe County Government, to promote Earth Hour.

Wason said the courthouse will be turning off its lights in support.

“It is going to be hard to turn off all lights because of safety reasons,” Wason said, “but all non-essential lights will be off.”

Because the courthouse is in the middle of town and is a monumental building in Bloomington, Wason said he hopes its participation will influence people to take part and help conserve energy. Wason said he also believes there will be at least 15 businesses in town shutting off their lights. For next year, Wason said he hopes to set something up to get a better grasp on how many businesses will participate. The biggest impact they are trying to have, Wason said, is to promote this through the community.

Wason is not the only one trying to encourage community involvement.

Elisa Pokral, the media and education director for the Monroe County Solid Waste District, said she is doing what she can to help people understand the importance of conserving the environment.

“It is important for anyone to take action,” Pokral said.

She said she believes Earth Hour gives people the chance to see the small things they can do to help make a difference. Pokral said that turning off the lights when someone leaves the room or turning off appliances not in use can add up. She added that people can go further than just joining in Earth Hour, and anyone can pick up information about going green at the Waste District’s central site, as well as its four rural sites.

Pokral said that more than 50 million people all over the world participated last year. According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 83 countries are committed to participate this year, with 36 million people in the United States alone.

“We’re urging Monroe County to do their part,” she said.