Switch off for Earth Hour

Tuesday, 5 March 2024

Every year, Penrith City Council proudly participates in Earth Hour and encourages community members and businesses to join them in switching their lights off as part of this global movement.

On Saturday 23 March 2024 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, Council will be turning off non-essential lighting at its facilities as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with thousands of others across the country.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney was proud for Council to participate for its seventeenth year, and encouraged residents who would be joining in for the first or seventeenth time to participate in the initiative.

“I’m proud that Council has been participating in Earth Hour since its inception in 2007, and I encourage everyone who can participate to turn out their lights for an hour on the day to show how one small action can have a big impact,” Cr Carney said.

"Earth Hour is a great starting point for change — many residents and businesses have turned switching off their lights when not in use as a part of their everyday life. When we turn off our lights and appliances when not in use, we’re decreasing the pressure put on the electricity grid and the fossil fuels used to create our electricity.

“Participating in this event is a small step, but Council is committed to playing our part by growing our environmental initiatives, reducing our emissions, and encouraging our community to do the same.

“Council proudly uses an electric vehicle, the Renault Kangoo, which turns five this year and runs on renewable energy, at a cost of just $1,926 in total. Our Library uses our second electric vehicle and has so far covered 7,956km and is recharged using 100% Greenpower at a cost of $336.”

Some of Council’s initiatives include hosting various tree planting events throughout the year, from residential and business-oriented tree planting projects like Greening our City to our beloved Trees for Mum and Trees for Dad community planting days. Council also has a 100% renewable energy power purchase agreement in place for our large sites, streetlighting and smart metered small sites as well as rooftop solar systems installed on 43 sites that generate electricity across the Penrith local government area.

For more information about Council’s sustainability initiatives, visit penrith.city/sustainability

For more information about Earth Hour, visit earthhour.org.au

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 5 March 2024.