Mount Prospect to Participate in Earth Hour

VILLAGE OF MOUNT PROSPECT TO PARTICIPATE IN EARTH HOUR

DATE: March 12, 2012

CONTACT: Michael Dallas, Administrative Analyst

PHONE: 847/392-6000

The Village of Mount Prospect plans to participate in the Earth Hour campaign on March 31, 2012, by turning off all nonessential lighting for one hour, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (All essential lighting such as street lights, traffic signals, and lighting for public safety will remain on.)

Sponsored by the conservation organization World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour is a global climate change initiative which calls on individuals, businesses, and communities around the world to turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday March 31, between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Last year, some of the world's most famous man-made marvels and natural wonders including the Eiffel Tower, Great Pyramids of Egypt, Buckingham Palace, Niagara and Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Empire State Building and Wrigley Field stood in darkness as a powerful symbol of landmark environmental action. This Earth Hour we hope you will turn off your lights.

When the lights go back on, we want you to go beyond the hour and think about what you can do to help conserve energy. Last year, the Village upgraded some pedestrian and street light fixtures on Prospect Avenue to light emitting diode (LED) fixtures and upgraded its indoor lighting at its Public Safety building; two projects expected to significantly reduce energy usage. This year, the Village plans to retrofit street lighting in the Kensington Business Center to LED technology.

The aim of the Earth Hour campaign is to express that individual action on a mass scale can help change our planet for the better. Climate change is perhaps the most significant issue facing our planet today. Earth Hour shows that together, each small action taken collectively can make a difference in the fight against global warming. For more information regarding the Earth Hour Campaign please go to www.earthhour.org.