Solar world records on the line for Earth Hour
Wingecarribee Shire Council is gearing up to tackle two unique records as it prepares to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday 30 March in conjunction with the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens.
Michael Rhydderch from Council’s Environment and Sustainability team explained how locals could join in the fun.
“Every year millions of people across the globe come together to join in Earth Hour festivities to show that they care about our planet,” he said.
“This year we thought we’d use the event to highlight the importance of renewable energy for a sustainable future by staging two record attempts,” he said.
The first is the Guinness World Record attempt for the largest display of solar lanterns.
“The team from the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens will lay out 1,200 solar lanterns in the shape of a giant footprint which will then be photographed from the air,” Michael said.
The second record attempt however requires greater community input.
“We need as many people as possible to come along on the night and bring their own solar lantern to make another giant footprint,” Michael said. “However this footprint will be created by people power!”
“Attendees needn’t worry if they don’t have their own solar lantern as we’ll provide one free of charge at the venue that they can take home with them at the end of the night.”
Earth Hour is a worldwide environmental movement held annually whereby individuals, businesses and communities are encouraged to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour in late March. This year hundreds of millions of people across more than 7,000 cities in over 180 countries are expected to take part in the celebrations.
“This free event is a celebration of renewable power and demonstrates how it can make a significant difference to the health of our environment,” Mr Rhydderch said.
In addition to the world record attempt the evening will also feature live music, a children’s lantern making workshop, the University of Wollongong’s futuristic sustainable home, displays from local renewable energy providers and a discussion led by guest speaker Greg Mullins, Councillor for the Climate Council and former NSW Fire & Rescue Commissioner.
Refreshments will also be available but guests are free to bring a picnic and enjoy the festivities in the Gardens.
To assist in coordination for the evening’s festivities, participants are asked to register online at www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/earthhour. Bookings for the Children’s Lantern Making Workshops are essential and can also be booked via the website.
The Shire’s Earth Hour celebrations will be held from 5.15pm on Saturday 30 March 2019 at the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens, located on the corner of Kangaloon and Old South Roads, Bowral.
For more information, including registration details, visit Council’s website at www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/earthhour.