Alberta government buildings go dark for Earth Hour

Lights will remain off for one hour at Government Centre in Edmonton (including the Alberta Legislature Building, Legislature Annex, Terrace Building, Bowker Building and Haultain Building), the Calgary Court Centre and other select government buildings.

Earth Hour is a global environmental initiative in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are encouraged to turn out their lights for one hour to show support for environmentally sustainable action.

Alberta government employees and Albertans are encouraged to participate in Earth Hour by turning off their household lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, and to show their ongoing support by regularly remembering to turn off their computer monitors and office lights at the conclusion of the work day. 

Beyond the symbolic gesture for Earth Hour, the Alberta government regularly turns off non-essential lights evenings and weekends at the majority of government owned-buildings. This is just one example of the Government of Alberta’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Government continues to reduce the environmental impact of its buildings by improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and implementing environmental programs that cover the range of a building's life cycle from design and construction to operations and maintenance. 

In 2014, Earth Hour’s Use Your Power concept invites individuals and organizations to challenge others to an ongoing environmental commitment beyond the hour. Earth Hour began in one city in 2007 and by 2012 involved hundreds of millions of people in 152 countries across every continent, receiving reports as ‘the world’s largest campaign for the planet’.

Backgrounder

Alberta government continues daily commitment to green practices

Energy Programs

• Since 2009, 100 per cent of the electricity supplied to Alberta government-owned facilities with access to grid electricity is from renewable energy sources such as local Alberta wind farms. 
• Government’s use of green electricity is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 150,000 tonnes annually. This greenhouse gas reduction is equivalent to taking approximately 40,000 vehicles off the Alberta’s roads every year.
• Government uses other alternative energy sources such as:
  • Solar Photovoltaic systems to supplement electricity requirements at the Pincher Creek Provincial Building and the Alberta Legislature; as well as,
  • Solar Thermal systems to help pre-heat Hot Water requirements at the Pincher Creek Provincial Building, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre, the Medicine Hat Remand Centre and the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.

Recycling

• More than 300,000 mercury-containing items have been diverted from landfills since government began its fluorescent lamp and mercury recycling program in 2006.
• Used batteries from government’s business operations are being recycled; over 14,000 kgs have been recycled since 2009.

BOMA BESt

• To date, eighty six government buildings have been certified under the national BOMA BESt environmental standard.
• BOMA BESt focuses on existing facilities by improving workplace environments through making them safer and healthier, reducing energy consumption, cutting operating costs, and improving waste management.
• Overall, BOMA BESt buildings have improved their building energy performance indexes (BEPIs) approximately 6% since 2009.

LEED

• In 2006, Alberta adopted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver as its environmental design standard for new provincial buildings. 
• Designed to be up to 45 per cent more energy-efficient than conventional buildings, LEED Silver buildings cost less to operate and work environments are healthier through improved air quality and use of natural light.