This past Saturday evening marked the 4th annual Earth Hour, an international event that raises awareness for environmental problems and climate change. Laurier’s EcoHawks hosted a day-long event in the quad to involve students and make them aware of the event.
“It’s been really good because this whole day people have been walking by and asking us what’s going on and asking us why we are here. That’s the most important thing because these people will go home and then they’ll be thinking about it later,” said EcoHawks co-ordinator Astri Buchanan.
The EcoHawks set up in the quad, offering live musical performances every hour and a free barbeque in the evening. At 8:30 p.m. they arranged to have many of the lights around campus dimmed or turned off and lit a collection of candles that students could then take home as a thanks.
“We worked out with PP&P to turn off not all of the lights, because that’s a lot of work for them, but they’re turning off some of the lights in Mac House, the lights in the dining hall.”
Buchman also noted that lights in the food court, the FNCC and Alumni Field were being turned off.
The event was successful, with a good turnout of students who stayed for the duration of the hour, playing games and enjoying the dark.
Waterloo Hydro North reported that during the hour long event, the percentage of power used in the city of Waterloo dropped by approximately 3.5 per cent.
