<< Peninsula New 26 March 2007 - Registered for Earth Hour >>

Registered for Earth Hour

A local bed and breakfast will be one of the few Peninsula businesses registered to take part in Earth Hour on March 31.

Ettalong Beach Bed and Breakfast will take part in the event, which will see over 1000 businesses from Sydney and the surrounding areas turn off all non-essential lighting at 7.30pm on March 31.

Earth Hour is the launch of a 12-month World Wildlife Fund campaign to reduce Sydney's greenhouse gas emissions by five per cent.

The event website reported that "this could be achieved if all businesses and households turned off unused lights and appliances on standby".

The website also stated that even though Earth Hour was a Sydney based event this year, businesses and residents outside of Sydney were still invited to register, take part and to "show their support" by turning off their lights at 7.30pm local time".

Organisers stated that they hoped the event could grow into a global campaign.

Ettalong Beach Bed and Breakfast owner Ms Marie-Clare Pigott said the B&B would be turning off its lights and any appliances that were on standby.

"And we will be watching the glow over Sydney disappear," Ms Pigott said.

"We will spend the next hour sitting on the balcony star gazing.

"Our guests will be having an extra romantic time away with the ambience of candlelight in their rooms and the lounge area.

Ms Pigott said she and husband Gary decided to take part in the event as they had two teenage children and wanted the earth to "remain a great place for them, and their children, to live in".

"We believe that if every person does a little something in his or her everyday lives it can have a massive impact and make the world a better place," Ms Pigott said.

"If businesses can lead by example and start thinking of the environment it will start a quiet, simple revolution, for the good of us all.

"All they need to do is on Friday, 30 March, make sure before they leave, for the weekend, that all non safety or emergency lights are switched off and that all electrical appliances are turned off or taken off standby."

For more information about Earth Hour visit the website at www.earthhour.smh.com.au.

Lyle Stone, 23 Mar 2007