Lights to go out at Century Tower, other sites as UF observes Earth Hour

March 26, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Century Tower will go dark this weekend as the University of Florida observes Earth Hour, a worldwide effort to turn off lights between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday to save energy and demonstrate a commitment to fighting climate change.

The lights around Century Tower, the LED signs at campus entrances, and lights on fountains and on outdoor art installations will be off from Friday evening until Monday morning, said Dedee DeLongpré Johnston, the director of the Office of Sustainability.

This is the second year UF has encouraged students, faculty and staff to participate in Earth Hour but the first year campus landmarks have been turned off. Last year, the university did not turn off lights due to safety concerns about students walking in the dark. This year, Century Tower and other campus icons will symbolize the school’s commitment to sustainability without affecting lights on streets, sidewalks, or parking garages.

“We tried to shift our thinking about it,” DeLongpré Johnston said. “Light really enhances the nighttime beauty of our campus icons — and it takes energy to do so.”

Her office will also urge students, especially those living in residence halls, to turn off nonessential lighting during Earth Hour.

Earth Hour started two years ago in Sydney, Australia, and became a global event in 2008 when more than 400 cities turned off extra lights, including those at the Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum and the Empire State Building, according to the World Wildlife Fund Web site.