DENVER EMBRACES WORLDWIDE EARTH HOUR EVENT

Mayor Hickenlooper and Greenprint Denver encourage businesses and residents to “go dark” for one hour
Saturday to promote energy conservation

DENVER–Mayor John Hickenlooper, Greenprint Denver and millions of people around the world will come together Saturday, March 29 to make a strong statement about energy conservation by participating in Earth Hour. Mayor Hickenlooper and Greenprint Denver are urging Denver residents and businesses to help make Earth Hour a success by switching off their lights and non-essential appliances for one hour this Saturday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time.

Earth Hour is a global initiative organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) conservation organization. Greenprint Denver is the city’s action agenda for sustainability, promoting ecologically friendly practices throughout the community to make Denver a better place to live, work and play.

“Greenprint Denver fully supports Earth Hour as a reminder of the significant impact each of us has on our environment,” said Michele Weingarden, director of Greenprint Denver. “Earth Hour allows Denver residents to consider our energy use, both as individuals and as a community.”

Last year, Sydney, Australia participated in Earth Hour with 2.2 million residents and 2,100 businesses going dark for one hour. This collective effort reduced the city’s energy consumption by 10.2-percent for the hour, which is the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one year. This year, it is estimated more than 30 million people will take part of Earth Hour worldwide.

The City and County of Denver will support Earth Hour by turning off non-essential lights in the Wellington Webb Municipal Building and the Minoru Yasui Building at 303 W. Colfax Ave. The Colorado Convention Center will have a majority of exterior lights turned off, including the highly-visible light “blade” of the building. In addition, the Denver Performing Arts Complex will turn off the LED marquees around the performing arts complex and exterior lights will be turned off, wherever it is safely feasible. Denver residents can tune into Denver 8 TV in advance for energy-saving tips.

In addition to City buildings, many major businesses and buildings in Denver have committed to participating in Earth Hour, including Qwest Communications, home to one of Denver’s most visible skyline landmarks. Qwest will turn off the LED signs on the 54th floor of the Qwest Building as well as any non-essential lights in the building, a company spokesperson said.

Additional buildings and companies participating include (but are not limited to):

Buildings

Denver Newspaper Agency Denver Aquarium
University of Denver Tower
Molson Coors Brewing Company
Grubb and Ellis (property management company for 1801 California – Qwest Building)
Janus Capital Group
410 17th St.
Tabor Center
Denver Pavilion
US Bank
Civic Center Plaza

Restaurants/Hotels

Adams Mark Hotel
Hotel Teatro
Hotel Monaco
Hilton Garden Inn
Fruition Restaurant
Village Cork Restaurant
Strings Restaurant
P.F. Chang’s
Kevin Taylor Restaurants
Elway’s Restaurant
Earl’s Restaurant
Limelight Supper Club

For more information, visit www.greenprintdenver.org or www.earthhour.org.