TURNING THE SWITCH OFF IS A SIMPLE ACT.

WE'RE TAUGHT FROM AN EARLY AGE TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS WHENEVER WE LEAVE A ROOM.

BUT HOW MANY OF US ACTUALLY DO IT ??

THERE'S A WORLDWIDE INITIATIVE TO TAKE THAT SIMPLE ACT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL... CALLED EARTH HOUR.

A SYMBOLIC FIRST STEP WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING THE PLANET.

PAUL

"THE CITY OF KINGSTON IS ON BOARD AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO JOIN US AND GET ON BOARD AS WELL.

HELP US SHOW THE WORLD THAT KINGSTON IS AWARE OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT KINGSTON IS WILLING TO DO BETTER."

IN ONTARIO, THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY IS ONE OF THE MAIN OFFENDERS WHEN IT COMES TO EMITTING GREENHOUSE GASSES.

THAT'S WHY THE FOCUS IS ON POWERING DOWN... FOR JUST ONE HOUR ON THE LAST SATURDAY IN MARCH.

LIGHTS IN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS WILL BE TURNED OFF, THERMOSTATS LOWERED, CHILLERS AT LOCAL ARENAS SHUT OFF..., AND SOME STREET LIGHTS WILL BE SHUT OFF.

OF COURSE, SAFETY WILL COME FIRST.

 PAUL....

BUT MUNICIPALITIES AREN'T THE ONLY ONES TAKING PART.

SCHOOLS LIKE ST LAWRENCE COLLEGE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO PLUNGE INTO DARKNESS DURING EARTH HOUR.

BLAYNE MACKEY

"THE INTENT IS TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS IN UNOCCUPIED AREAS.

THERE WILL STILL BE SOME ON FOR SECURITY PURPOSES SO WE CAN CAN EVACUATE BUILDINGS IF WE HAVE TO.

BUT WE WILL TURN OFF AS MANY LIGHTS AS WE CAN AND SAVE SOME KILOWATT HOURS."

THAT INCLUDES MANY EXTERIOR LIGHTS USED TO ILLUMINATE THE BUILDING AND SURROUNDING PARKING LOTS.

BUT IT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING LONG TERM THAT WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST ENERGY SAVING IMPACT.

CURRENTLY THE COLLEGE IS IN THE PROCESS OF SPENDING 6.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS LIKE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

THEY SAY IT'S NOT ONLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF OVER TIME.

BLAYNE

"WHEN ITS DONE IT WILL SAFE US 600 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR ANNUALLY ON OUR ENERGY BILLS.

SO ITS A VERY QUICK PAY BACK.

AND THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF TAKING ABOUT 250 CARS OFF THE ROAD."

THE BIGGEST IMPACT OF EARTH HOUR WILL LIKELY COME FROM THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER.... BY TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS AND LOWERING THE THERMOSTAT FOR THAT ONE HOUR.... BETWEEN 8 AND 9PM.

UTILITIES KINGSTON PLANS TO DO A BEFORE AND AFTER TEST.. TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY WE 'DON'T' USE.

EARTH HOUR ORIGINATED IN AUSTRALIA.... AND THIS WEBSITE SHOWS NEARLY 200-THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS, 7-THOUSAND BUSINESSES HAVE SIGNED UP.

CANADA ALSO HAS THE MOST PARTICIPATING CITIES OF ANY NATION.

BUT BEHIND THE NUMBERS, SUPPORTERS SAY EACH RESIDENTS HAS THE POWER TO TURN OFF THE LIGHT, AND SAVE THE PLANET.

STU HAY NEWSWATCH KINGSTON.