Down To Earth For Just An Hour

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday March 18, 2008

GR

THE University of Newcastle's 27,000 staff and students are being encouraged to give the books a rest and turn their computers off for an hour on Saturday March 29.

Leading the charge for Earth Hour will the university's chancellor Professor Trevor Waring, who plans to plunge his house into darkness at 8pm.

"I think Earth Hour does two things," he said. "It has the direct impact of reducing energy use but I think it's also a symbol that we are committed to this in the long term.

"It's a great initiative."

The university is one of the lowest consumers of energy per square metre of all Australian universities.

Since 1997 it has saved $300,000 a year in electricity costs and reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 3000 tonnes a year. Despite a significant expansion of the Callaghan campus, energy consumption has increased by only five per cent.

"It's just about turning off things that were unnecessary," Professor Waring said.

"We are also getting very keen to look at the energy costs associated with any equipment that we buy."

EARTH HOUR

Sign up: www.earthhour.org

Do your bit: REFIT 1800 368 476

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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