OMNI homes take part in Earth Hour
Rosebridge Manor commits to turning off the lights
Monday March 31, 2008 -- Jason Thompson
Staff and residents at Rosebridge Manor, along with people and businesses from around the world, turned off the lights for one hour March 29 as part of a growing global movement called Earth Hour.

On March 27, maintenance co-ordinator Keith Eldridge circulated an e-mail from head office to each one of OMNI’s long-term care homes asking them to participate in Earth Hour and eliminate energy consumption where possible March 29 between 8 and 9 p.m.

Administrator Dorothy Broeders-Morin says the idea was well-received at the Jasper long-term care home.

“We want to do anything that relates to going green,” says Broeders-Morin. “We’re going to turn off the lighting for the hour but we probably won’t be able to shut off the laundry because of the nature of the shifts they work.”

Broeders-Morin credits resident council president Martin Stubbs for championing Earth Hour at the home.

Stubbs says he’s happy to see the home taking part in Earth Hour.

“It’s a very good idea,” he says. “I think it should be cut down everyday.”

Stubbs is also led the charge to make sure his fellow residents were aware the lights were going out for an hour and why.

Earth Hour began March 31, 2007, in Sydney Australia when 2.2 million Sydney residents and 2,100 businesses turned off their lights for an hour in an effort to reduce the impact coal-fired generating stations are having on the planet.

According to the Earth Hour website, if the energy savings in Sydney during Earth Hour in 2007 was sustained for an entire year, it would equal removing more than 48,000 cars off the road.

Inspired by Sydney’s success in 2007, cities around the world have pledged to take part this year.

All OMNI homes were asked to participate in the event by turning off their regular lighting between 8 and 9 p.m. Homes were also encouraged to turn off their equipment and avoid doing laundry for the hour if possible.

Did your home partake in Earth Hour? To share your experience, contact the newsroom at (800) 294-0051, ext. 25 or e-mail jason(at)axiomnews.ca.