The Department of Energy (DOE) is encouraging the public to join in observing the annual Earth Hour on Saturday, March 25. 

“The conscientious and mindful use of energy is not only our responsibility to ourselves and the country but more importantly to our Mother Earth. We highly encourage everyone to participate. Sixty minutes of your time would already create a significant impact in contributing to reverse nature loss and achieve a climate-resilient future,” Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla said in a statement. 

Lotilla added that Earth Hour serves as an “opportune reminder of how simple everyday practices could have a great impact on bringing down our energy consumption level.” 

In 2022, DOE reported that 65.32 megawatts (MW) were saved across the country during Earth Hour. 35.26 MW were saved in Luzon, 15.3 MW in Mindanao, and 14.76 MW in Visayas. 

“Behavioral change may seem like a challenge but there are relatively simple things that we as residents, businesses, and local governments can do to be energy efficient, increase resilience to climate change and pave the way to a more sustainable future,” Lotilla said. 

Earth Hour is an annual symbolic lights-out event that encourages the public to switch off their non-essential lights to raise awareness on climate change and environmental concerns. 

This year’s Earth Hour will be on Saturday, March 25 from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM