For one hour Saturday night, Downtown went dark.
The downtown Phoenix campus joined local businesses and those around the world in observance of Earth Hour by turning off all non-essential lights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Exterior signage at the University Center, Nursing and Health Care Innovation, the Mercado and Residential Commons (RSCOM) was turned off from 6 p.m. through morning to raise awareness about climate change, said Kate Laberge, coordinator for student engagement at the Downtown campus.
According to an e-mail from Laberge, University staff asked all students in RSCOM to turn off lights and electrical equipment in their dorms during that hour.
Laberge said she collaborated with the Copper Square Ambassadors to take a tour of the city during Earth Hour with participating students.
"We received 'I'm not afraid of the dark' stickers and glow bracelets and necklaces," Laberge said. "We toured and saw the city from the top of a parking structure and then stargazed at the Science Center."
Laberge said the stars were easier to see due to reduced light pollution.
Seven of the 110 RSCOM residents participated in Earth Hour, Laberge said. "Considering this was on a Saturday night at 8 p.m., I would consider seven a great success," she said.
Dan Wool, a spokesman for Arizona Public Service, said that although it's too early for APS to report the amount of energy saved during Earth Hour, "going into the event, APS energy planners expected ... to save approximately 20 to 100 megawatts of power."
"One megawatt of electricity is equivalent to the amount needed to power about 200 to 250 homes," he said. He noted that businesses use more energy than homes do.
Wool said the majority of Earth Hour participants were downtown businesses, including Phoenix City Hall, the Hyatt Regency and, of course, APS.
"We turned out 5,200 non-essential lights" at the APS downtown headquarters, Wool said. "Building by building, the darkened skyline created a dramatic statement and a big energy savings."
Jonathan Fink, director of the Global Institute of Sustainability at ASU and Ahwatukee resident, said he didn't notice the darkness when he and his kids climbed up South Mountain, about 15 miles from central Phoenix, to see if "the lights got noticeably dimmer or less numerous."
He said there was not an obvious "significant effect." In fact, he said, "there was enough reflected light for us to be able to hike in the moonlight without flashlights."
Regardless of its perceived failure or success, Earth Hour is, as Wool said, "a great symbol of how everyone can conserve energy and make a difference for the environment every day."
"It is literally as simple as turning off a light when you leave a room."
To learn more about climate change, visit worldwildlife.org/climate.
Reach the reporter at: ksarver@asu.edu.
