Retailers offer discounts for Earth Hour

Eleven retailers have joined forces to offer discounts to shoppers during a day of activities organized to support Bermuda’s observance of Earth Hour.

A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd., Bermuda Gas, Brown & Co., Daisy & Mac, Davison’s of Bermuda, Gibbons Company, Hera Boutique, Island Trading, People’s Pharmacy, Pulp & Circumstance and The Bermuda Shop by Carole Holding, will be offering savings to their customers on Saturday, March 29, as Bermuda joins more than 150 countries in a global initiative to recognize the importance of committing to sustainability.

People will be eligible for the discounts if they have special bags, with fliers listing the savings, which are being donated by Earth Hour lead sponsor Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO) and which will be distributed on the day by representatives of Bermuda’s Emerging Professionals (BEPRO) members. 

“BELCO has been a member of the Earth Hour Council since its inception, and we are pleased to help our community gather for an event that symbolizes the importance of using energy efficiently year-round,” said spokesperson Susan McGrath Smith.  “Working together as a community, we have the power to save money and the environment.”

BELCO’S Earth Hour bags, which feature the 2014 event’s bold 60+ logo, will be distributed (BEPRO) during events on March 29.

Bermuda’s observance of Earth Hour, its fifth since the initiative was launched as a “lights-out” campaign in Australia in 2007, is coordinated by sustainability advocacy group Greenrock.

“We are truly appreciative of the enthusiastic support we’re receiving from Bermuda’s business community and the Island’s residents as we enter the countdown to Earth Hour,” said Greenrock Executive Director Gordon Johnson. “There’s a real feeling of community spirit and collaboration building around this event.”

Earth Hour activities begin at noon with a Living Green Expo on the upper level of the Washington Mall that runs until 5pm. Companies taking part in the Living Green Expo include Bermuda Executive Services, Butterfield & Vallis, Orange Bay Company, the Department of Energy, Alternative Energy Solutions, and Keep Bermuda Beautiful.

As well as attending the events, people are being urged to turn off their lights for an hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 29.

The full schedule for Earth Hour is as follows:

• 12:00pm – 5pm     Living Green Expo – Upper Level, Washington Mall

• 6pm Children’s activities, including face painting, bouncy castle and giant Jenga  – City Hall Lawn

• 6pm – 7:20pm        Surviving Progress, an acclaimed documentary featuring interviews with film director Martin Scorcese, anthropologist Jane Goodall and physicist Stephen Hawking – Earl Cameron Theatre

• 6pm-7:30pm          Reading corner  - Bermuda National Library hosts a reading to enlighten children through fun stories about how they can do their part to conserve energy and minimize their waste

• 6:45pm        Bermuda Yoga and Horizon Health yoga and Pilates classes – City Hall Lawn

• 7:30pm        Rebecca Faulkenberry and Reeve Carney, stars of Broadway’s Spider-Man:Turn Off the Dark – City Hall Lawn

• 7:30pm-9:30pm     Performances by In Motion dancers, Rock Fire, Island Teaser, DanceSations and TROIKA as well as spoken word artist Tiffany Paynter; ecoRUNWAY trash fashion show by Bermuda High School for Girls – City Hall steps

• 8:30pm-9:30pm     Walk of Flame celebrating Earth Hour* - begins and ends at City Hall

The Walk of Flame is a community walk through the unlit streets of Hamilton. Participants will be given tea lights and are encouraged to bring decorated jars to hold their tea lights and illuminate the way. There is a $23 entrance fee for the Walk of Flame which covers costs and registration. Walkers can register at www.racedayworld.com.

The Bermuda community is invited to register their support for Earth Hour at the event’s Facebook page which can be found at http://on.fb.me/PjqQSW.

Earth Hour Sponsors and Supporters

BELCO – Lead Sponsor

Appleby – World Partner

ACE Bermuda Ltd.

Butterfield & Vallis

Bacardi International

BTC

Catlin

Orbis

Corporation of Hamilton

Chamber of Commerce

Bermuda Motors

AAC Saatchi & Saatchi

Auto Solutions

Colonial Group International

Victoria Place

The Athletic Club

RenaissanceRe

PartnerRe

HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited

The Music Box