Dubai Airports flipped the switch on Earth Hour earlier than usual this year by launching a campaign to turn off all non-essential lights at Dubai International for an hour everyday over 24 days in the run-up to Earth Hour on March 29th.

The campaign, which commenced at 1900 (7pm) on March 6, will not affect essential facilities within the airport to ensure smooth operations.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said, “This is a great opportunity for us to renew and increase our environmental commitment and take the lead in setting the right example. We have been participating in the global initiative since 2009 with hour-long switch off at the airport and realised there was scope to substantially increase our contribution to the cause by extending it over several days.”

“As an airport that welcomes nearly 6 million passengers from more than 125 destinations across six continents each month, Dubai International is a perfect venue to spread the message of environmental conservation far and wide. The idea is to inspire people to join in and contribute to this important cause,” Griffiths added.

The 24 hours of power conservation will save the airport an estimated 300,000 KWH of energy which is equal to 129 tonnes of CO2 emissions, more than 23,729 gallons of gasoline, or the same as carbon sequestered by 5,427 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

The 24-day switch-off will happen across terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Dubai International as well as the passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central. All non-essential and decorative lighting at the airports, both indoor and outdoor, will also be switched off from 1900 (7pm) to 2000 (8pm) from March 6th-28th and from 2030 (830pm) to 2130 (930pm) on March 29th to mark the global Earth Hour 2014.

SOURCE Enviro.Aero