UCLA students are going dark for Earth Hour on March 28, by turning off the lights and going plug-free for an hour as part of the international event raising awareness about climate change and energy usage.
The Los Angeles Mayor’s Office rallied institutions citywide to participate. UCLA’s 2.4 million square feet of residence hall space is part of an estimated 28 million square feet of buildings in L.A. turning off the lights from 8:30-9:30 on Saturday night.
“UCLA is proud to join the Mayor’s Office and participate in Earth Hour,” said Nurit Katz, UCLA’s chief sustainability officer. “It aligns with our carbon neutrality strategy and Sustainable L.A. Grand Challenge, which is developing a plan to get L.A. to 100 percent sustainability in energy, water and biodiversity by 2050. The students are passionate about these issues and participate in Do it in the Dark energy competitions and other related events regularly.”
More than 60 buildings citywide are participating at locations including Los Angeles City Hall, the Getty Center, Paramount Studios, Los Angeles International Airport, the University of Southern California, the Port of L.A., and the Department of Water and Power's John Ferraro Building.
“Climate change is at our doorstep and we simply cannot wait to take action any longer,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Individual steps lead to big collective leaps towards change. We as a city — employees, residents, visitors and businesses — can band together to make every hour Earth Hour.”
At UCLA and elsewhere, social media campaigns and other outreach is expected to encourage additional particiaption, turning Earth Hour into a time for large institutions and small family homes alike to unplug and reconnect in other ways. Keep up with the event on Twitter via @SustainUCLA, @EarthHour, and #changeforclimatechange.
