FREDERICTON (GNB) – NB Power and many partner organizations are encouraging New Brunswickers to join them in marking Earth Hour 2013 by powering down from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.

NB Power's head office and other locations across the province will go dark during the hour, and all non-essential electricity will be switched off.
 
"Earth Hour is an opportunity for New Brunswickers to join people from around the world to think about the energy they use and how they use it," said Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch, who is also the minister responsible for energy efficiency. "This is an important initiative that highlights ways that we can impact our energy consumption and lessen our environmental footprint."
 
Earth Hour is a global grassroots initiative to raise awareness about how energy is consumed. Participants can use the 60 minutes to plan how to use energy differently when Earth Hour is over.
 
"This March 23, New Brunswickers can make a real difference, simply by switching off the lights for an hour and chatting about how we might use energy more efficiently," said Gaëtan Thomas, president and chief executive officer of NB Power. "Small lifestyle changes can mean a world of difference, and it is our responsibility to ensure a bright future for the environment, and thus, our province."
 
Remember that safety comes first when participating in Earth Hour. Please make sure that candles, or any open flames, are not left unattended, in drafty areas or near flammable objects.
 
NB Power is partnering with the departments of Energy and Mines and Environment and Local Government as well as Efficiency NB, Saint John Energy, Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission and Edmundston Energy to promote energy efficiency.
 
More information and tips on how to reduce power consumption are online or at a local home show. More information about Earth Hour is online.