--- title: Environmental Empowerment by Powering Down description: Earth hour began as a “Lights Off” event in Sydney in 2007. Now in 2021, it marks a symbolic stand for the Earth. An opportunity to turn off all non-essential energy use and to reflect on how we utilise precious resources. You can join us this Saturday, March 27th, at 8:30 pm in this now … Environmental Empowerment by Powering Down Read More » --- ![](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CarbonPositiveAustralia_August2021/images/large-logo.png?noresize) × - [About Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-us/) - [Blog](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/) - [Account](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/my-account/) - [Contact](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/contact/) - Our Work - [Our Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/) - [Community Planting Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/community-planting-projects/) - [CarbonCare™](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-carbon/carboncare-program/) - Act Now - [Plant Trees](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product/donate-trees/) - [Purchase Quick Offsets](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product-category/quick-offsets/) - [Calculate Your Footprint](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) - [Plant your Land](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/plant-your-land/) - [Spread the Word](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/spread-the-word/) - [Partner with Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/) - [Learn More](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/) [Calculate](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) [Donate](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/donate/) [Cart](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au) - Our Work - [Our Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/) - [Community Planting Projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/community-planting-projects/) - [CarbonCare™](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/about-carbon/carboncare-program/) - Act Now - [Plant Trees](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product/donate-trees/) - [Purchase Quick Offsets](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/product-category/quick-offsets/) - [Calculate Your Footprint](https://calculator.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) - [Plant your Land](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/plant-your-land/) - [Spread the Word](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/spread-the-word/) - [Partner with Us](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/partnerships/) - [Learn More](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/learn/) [![Carbon Positive Australia](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CarbonPositiveAustralia_August2021/images/Carbon-Positive-Australia-RGB-Horizontal.png?width=300&height=90&name=Carbon-Positive-Australia-RGB-Horizontal.png "Carbon Positive Australia")](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/) X # Environmental Empowerment by Powering Down ![Lights down_philip-moore-pGugunv7Uf4-unsplash-1024x683](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Lights%20down_philip-moore-pGugunv7Uf4-unsplash-1024x683.jpg?width=714&name=Lights%20down_philip-moore-pGugunv7Uf4-unsplash-1024x683.jpg) Earth hour began as a “Lights Off” event in Sydney in 2007. Now in 2021, it marks a symbolic stand for the Earth. An opportunity to turn off all non-essential energy use and to reflect on how we utilise precious resources. You can join us this Saturday, March 27th, at 8:30 pm in this now worldwide movement that encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential energy use, particularly lighting, for one hour, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Earth Hour is more than just an hour for the planet. It’s a movement for our future and a call to reduce our energy consumption, one consumer at a time. We all have the power to change the way that we use resources. Small behavioural changes, when added together, can have a considerable impact. **Electricity** • Turn off the lights when you leave a room • Use a standby power board • Use the ‘eco’ setting on your dishwasher and washing machine • Set your air conditioner between 24 and 27 degrees • If you own your own home, consider installing solar panels – this can lower your carbon footprint AND save money in the long term! **Natural Gas** • In the kitchen, try using a smaller pan if possible and put a lid on so the food cooks faster • If you have a gas hot water system, conserve hot water by taking shorter showers and installing low-flow showerheads • Set your water heater to a maximum of 50°C **LPG** • If your hot water system runs on LPG, conserve hot water by taking shorter showers and installing low-flow showerheads • Set your water heater to a maximum of 50°C • When using LPG for outdoor cooking, make sure you switch the gas off at the bottle (not just at the BBQ) after every use **Firewood** • Open your curtains during the day to naturally warm your home • Ensure your roof is well-insulated and that and no cold draughts are entering through the doors or flooring • Layer up with clothes, then decide if you still need to light the fire As individuals, we can turn the tide of climate change, and our small changes have huge impacts when we own this power. We encourage you to “Power down” this Earth hour and ask your friends and family to join you. Here at Carbon Positive Australia, we want to make every hour an hour for the Earth. We were the first organisation in Australia to have a carbon footprint calculator. We have been working hard behind the scenes to release our NEW and improved Carbon Calculator to provide YOU with powerful but simple tools to make significant changes and lower your personal carbon footprint. Supported by Lotterywest, and designed with Anthologie, a Perth-based creative agency, our updated online calculator provides a fantastic user experience alongside accurate calculations. Our new and improved footprint calculator will feature: • A user-friendly interface for desktop and mobile platforms • Tooltips to guide and assist the user through the process • “Did You Know?” Facts • Transparent references and explanations on calculated emissions • Tailored insights into the user’s carbon footprint, including ways to reduce and offset emissions • The ability for users to share their results and compare their carbon footprint over time • A range of [tree planting projects](https://carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/our-work/) that you can offset into that not only *remove* carbon but that also help *heal the land*. Please share the steps you take above, tag us on social media @carbonpositiveaus, subscribe to our newsletter, and together, let’s take action this hour and every hour. ###### Share To: [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/environmental-empowerment-by-powering-down) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/environmental-empowerment-by-powering-down&text=Environmental%20Empowerment%20by%20Powering%20Down) [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/environmental-empowerment-by-powering-down) [Previous Carbon Hero Feature: Garnier](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/blog/carbon-heroes-garnier) [Next The Art & Science of Restoration](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/blog/blog/the-art-science-of-restoration) [![ACNC Registered Charity Logo](https://blog.carbonpositiveaustralia.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/CarbonPositiveAustralia_August2021/images/ACNC-Registered-Charity-Logo_RGB-small-90x90-1.png?width=300&height=90&name=ACNC-Registered-Charity-Logo_RGB-small-90x90-1.png "ACNC Registered Charity Logo")](https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/6b277cb062f2ed00c0dae54b6b14a85a) Carbon Positive Australia acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. 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