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Community Corner

Get Ready to Celebrate Earth Hour

Enjoy Earth Hour with your friends and family while beginning new eco-conscious traditions. Turn off the lights, unplug the TV and help make a difference in energy consumption.

Every year, for the last five years, at 8:30 p.m. on March 26 I have happily participated in the Global Earth Hour movement.

It is a time when the entire world pauses to take a moment to reflect on their energy consumption. The challenge is to withstand one solid hour without electricity pulsing through the walls.

Since I am so rightfully dedicated to this goal I try each year to gather as many friends as possible around a candle lit dinner to celebrate and honor any and all positive changes and action steps that we can make to help preserve the earth for generations to come. It has become a sort of tradition for everyone to give their resolutions and to discuss past resolutions that they may or may not have succeeded in.

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Last year my resolution was to unplug everything before I left the house, this included computers, laptops, lamps, alarm clocks, and even the television. Since then I can happily say that at any given time of the day there are only two things plugged in to the walls’, my refrigerator and my stove. All else I either only plug in when I’m using it or I got rid of entirely (like my television).

Most people are surprised when they learn that even when your device is not turned on it still draws electricity to your home. For example, if you have your computer plugged in but it is shut down, you are still generating electricity to your home. So, in order to minimize the burning of fossil fuels and waste to energy consumption, just do us all a favor and unplug it. If this is too much to remember then try to plug all of your necessities in to a power strip and in the very least turn it off when they are not in use. I also find it helpful, especially with roommates, to post notes on light switches with cheery little messages like: “help the planet; turn off the light before you leave the room.” For more information on how to cut back on your energy consumption and for tips on how to “green your home” check out the Environmental Protection Agency's website.

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Another easy and effective way to cut down on your energy consumption is to purchase CFL light bulbs. The amount of energy saved per kilowatt with these bulbs is just unbelievable in comparison. Gradually, switch out all of your bulbs as they burn out and in the meantime enjoy the money savings. You can also challenge yourself to live by candlelight for a period of time, it is more challenging than you would think. Be sure to calculate your energy usage and research this website for more information on how to dispose of CFL light bulbs properly (as they do contain mercury and require a special procedure). To recycle your CFL's properly check out the Pinellas County website for recycle drop off's and the do's and don'ts of recycling fluorescent bulbs.

So, for this year’s Earth hour, challenge yourself, family and friends to gather around in honor of this movement. Try establishing your own traditions; invite your children to read by candlelight, camp out back, enjoy a meal together, whatever it is just be a part of the change. After all, the more that we conserve in energy the more impact we will have in minimizing mountain top mining, in off setting the emissions of burning fossil fuels and ensuring a healthier planet and cleaner air. For every action step that we take we secure a better part of a healthier future.

 Take the Earth Hour pledge.

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