Founded back in 2007 by the World Wildlife Foundation, Earth Hour was created to highlight environmental issues around the world.  It’s a time when all lights – including landmarks – either completely go dark or dim for one hour. 

Paricipating in Earth Hour is simple:  at 8:30pm your time, turn off all electrical appliances for one hour. Yep, that includes your computers, video games, TV and all the lights in the house. I realize you’re probably saying What the heck will I do for an hour with no electricity? LOTS!  This is my 4th year celebrating and in my household we’ve celebrated by doing everything from reading outloud, playing monopoly, hosting a dinner party and just hanging out by our outdoor fireplace roasting marshmallows.  Here are a few other ways to enjoy Earth Hour in your home:

1. Connect with your family or friends.  Invite a few folks over, crack open a bottle of wine and catch up.  Lighting a few candles creates a relaxed, social atmosphere and makes even a messy house look good. Try it.
2. Dig into that novel you’ve been wanting to read. This year I’m reading Linchpin by Seth Godin and a historical novel Mary – Mrs A Lincoln by Janis Cooke Newman. A good taper candle provides illuminating light bright enough to read by. Cuddle up with a  blanket and you’re set.
3. Plan your meals for the week. Break out the cookbooks collecting dust on your bookshelf and figure out some new, easy and healthy meals. I’m currently LOVING Not Your Mother’s Slow Cooker Cookbook.
4. Identify constellations in the sky.  Or, if you don’t know any – make some up and create fantastic stories to go with them. See if anyone in your party figures out you’re clueless as to what’s really up there.
5. Brush your dog or cat.  They’ll love you.
6. Plan your garden.  Dig into those seed catalogs you’ve been hoarding all winter and make a list of what you are going to grow this year. Try something new (and heirloom if you can!)
7. Play a board game or cards.  Poker, Life, Outburst, Monopoly – they’re all good.
8. Create a vision board.  What do you want this year?  Cut out photos, words, etc and create a collage for your wall or table. Center it on what you wish to achieve this year. Look at it daily
9. Camp in your living room.  Tell ghost stories (don’t forget the flashlight pointed upwards from your chin for a bone-chilling effect), sleep in your clothes, read by lantern.  Just don’t start a campfire near the sofa - that would be bad.
10. Enjoy some romance. Nuff said. Hubba-hubba.

Tags: Earth hour, eco friendly living, green living tips, things to do in the dark

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 27th, 2010 at 3:45 pm and is filed under Green Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.