Don't Forget Lights Out for Earth Hour!

Don't forget that tomorrow at 8 p.m., it's "lights out" for Earth Hour, a global initiative organized by the World Wildlife Federation. If you're at home, perhaps rather than turn off all the lights and sit in darkness, you can take a well-needed breather from all of your electronic devices. Turn off the TV, the radio, the laptop/desktop computer, and mobile phone, and relax for 60 minutes. A colleague of mine suggested a nice, candlelit dinner.

"Earth Hour is an opportunity for all individuals, households and businesses to send a very powerful message," said Steve Matyas, President at Staples Business Depot, which plans to participate in the initiative.

Other technology companies have announced their support for Earth Hour, which is meant to "take action against climate change," including Best Buy, Sears Canada, Wal-Mart, and Telus Mobility. All stores will remain open although things like signgage will be turned off, and lights dimmed.

Of course what's a global initiative without a party? At 7:30 p.m. in Nathan Philips Square in Toronto, Canadian music artist Nelly Furtado will perform a free concert, complements of Virgin Mobile and WWF. The event will be low-power and carbon-neutral, with renewable energy supplied by Bullfrog Power.

Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group, called it a "party with a purpose". Indeed it is.

What will you be doing at 8 p.m. on Saturday night to help conserve energy?