Tomorrow, at 8.30pm, thousands of people across the UK and maybe a billion across the world will take part in Earth Hour.

It’ll look impressive, no doubt. The big switch-off will make the news. But so what? We know that just one hour, even on this global scale, won’t in itself save energy or reduce emissions in any significant way. This is a giant photo opportunity – eye-catching and symbolic, yes – but how can it really make a difference? More importantly, why would a science-based organisation like WWF believe this is worth the effort?

I think there are many reasons, but there are three worth focusing on.

Firstly, climate change is a threat truly global in its nature. It demands global attention, commitment and action. In December last year, as the climate talks in Copenhagen came to a stuttering finish, many in the UK felt disappointed and disillusioned. But talking to my colleagues working in areas of the world already feeling the effects of climate change, emotions ran much higher. Anger and disbelief best describes what nations like the Maldives, Bangladesh and Tanzania felt on seeing the failure of world leaders to take collective responsibility. They are seeing the effects of climate change now. It is, for countries in their position, no theory for debate or distant possibility.

As I write, more than 125 countries have confirmed their participation in Earth Hour, almost 40 more than in 2009, including 56 national capitals and eight of the 10 most populated metropolises on the planet. “Earth Hour” has appeared more than 30m times online in the past 24 hours and is currently one of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter. While the UK and the US (two major global emitters) may have seen an increase in sceptical noise on climate change in recent months, I feel confident that globally, this is no waning movement.

Secondly, politicians here in the UK need a mandate to act. Unlike elsewhere in the world, our main political parties all understand the threat of climate change and say that they are committed, albeit with different policies and approaches, to dealing with the problem. However, Copenhagen largely failed and leaders need us, the voters, to keep up a demand for action.

This close to a general election, there’s no better time to make a big, bold, collective statement that as a public, we expect leadership from our next government, whatever its hue. Schools, cathedrals, large companies, small businesses, pubs, clubs, councils all add up to a pretty comprehensive slice of our population and just this week, under pressure from Earth Hour participants, supporters and many committed MPs, the Palace of Westminster and 10 Downing Street joined the Senedd in Cardiff and the Scottish parliament in Holyrood and signed up to switch off. In the US, 31 state governors are supporting Earth Hour. The people who matter do notice.

Lastly, Earth Hour is for me a brilliant analogy for how we can get to a solution. Climate change will demand big, global ambition from world leaders – the “landmarks” of our political landscape. Just as lights go off at Christ the Redeemer, the Empire State Building and the Forbidden City, we need Presidents Lula da Silva, Obama and Hu Jintao and many others to work together in order to get a binding commitment to reduce emissions.

A low-carbon future will demand small changes from all of us at home, like the families taking part in Earth Hour, perhaps eating their dinner by candlelight. Better insulation, more efficient heating, using public transport and the products we choose to consume can all have impact on the energy we use and reduce our personal impact on our environment.

Earth Hour is not about a world without light, power and the great human achievements that keep us warm and safe. It is absolutely a celebration of their positive role; we want a bright future in which the lights stay on, drawing on forms of energy and innovative technologies that have a lesser impact on people and nature around the world. As the 10:10 campaign has shown alongside Earth Hour, collective action can have an impact.

We know that a single hour, once a year is not enough. But also we know that there is no greater, global call to action available at the flick of a switch. We firmly believe Earth hour is worth it.

Source: Guardian

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) offer consumers lighting through lamps that have a longer life and consume considerably less energy than conventional incandescent globes. As part of their strategy to introduce these globes, Eskom embarked on a national programme to exchange incandescent globes with CFLs in selected areas.

Since the programme began in 2004 more than 18 million CFLs have been exchanged for incandescent globes. The national programme was recently implemented in the Western Cape, Northern Province, Gauteng and Free State where four million CFLs were exchanged for incandescent globes.

The programme has reached more than 315 000 households and continues to reduce the energy demand from the household sector.
Source: Eskom

This complete off-grid solution includes all the necessary components for domestic lighting and cooling.

Brochure: HomeSystem-BLHS-601

Components

• 5 CFL connections
• CFC free 158l fridge & freezer with adjustable legs
• Intelligent solar battery charger
• Deep cycle, maintenance free battery
• 160W solar panel
• All cables and connectors

Features

• Lighting
  • 1 to 5 Compact fluorescent lights (energy saver)
• Fridge / freezer
  • Adjustable removable shelves (safety glass or wire options)
  • Automatic defrost
  • Ice Tray
  • Variable thermostat
• Solar panel and battery
  • Battery box with electronic regulator
  • Intelligent battery charger
  • Fuse protection
  • Deep cycle, maintenance free battery
  • Battery over-charge and over-use protection
• Easy LED guided installation

Specifications

• Fridge size: 500 x 520 x 1300 mm
• 12V Input
• 60W solar panel
• 20Ah deep cycle battery
• All cables and connectors included
• Two year warranty

Run your energy efficient CFL globes directly off DC with our unique home lighting system. CFL lighting is an order of magnitude more efficient than conventional incandescent lights.

CFL globes typically use less than one-third the electricity of incandescent bulbs of equivalent brightness and last up to nine years.

Incadescent light bulbs use only 10 percent of their energy to produce light, burning off the rest as heat. They waste 90 percent of the electricity, electricity that was mainly generated from coal and other fossil fuels. Within a few years, the ever-cheaper CFL will dominate the lighting market.

Brochure: Homelight-BLHL-111

Features

• 1 to 5 Compact fluorescent lights (energy saver)
• 50W solar panel with brackets, 40Ah deep cycle battery
• Optional lighter socket for mobile phone charger connection
• Easy LED guided installation
• Two year warranty

Specifications

• Battery box with electronic regulator
• Intelligent battery charger
• Fuse protection
• Thin film solar panel
• Deep cycle, maintenance free battery
• Battery over-charge and over-use protection
• LED connection and status indicators
• All cables and connectors

Ensure safe disposal of mercury CFL bulbs.