Community media partner:
Join your local municipalities and businesses and pledge to Turn It Off on May 16th.
Conservation of resources is one of the principles of sustainability. Whether it’s electricity, water, fuel, dimming or turning off unnecessary lights or other sources of energy, conservation is something that everyone can do immediately to make an immediate impact
Turn It Off BC Day – May 16th
Savings Results
The overall BC Hydro system saw 70 MW of lighting and other electronic equipment savings in the evening
· Preliminary analysis also showed a decrease during the day, indicating we had good participation from our business customers.
· 70 MW represents over a 1% decrease in the overall BC Hydro system load in the evening
· 70 MW is equivalent to over 1.2 million people turning off a single light bulb (for illustrative purposes, most likely smaller number of people turning off more items)
· If British Columbians repeated what they did on May 16th, everyday, then that one simple action would conservatively save over 80 GWh/year, which is enough to power 8,000 homes for a full year.
Thank you to ALL who particpated in Turn It Off!
Canada Place turned off their colored sails.
Cypress Mountain turned off unnecessary lights and equipment for the duration on the night on May 16.
Coast Capital Savings announced that their Head Office and Island Administration Office turned off building signage the night of May 16. Leading up to that day, Coast Capital educated staff with daily tips so they could and will continue to save energy at home.
The Westin Bayshore Hotel committed to turn off all the lights after 6pm in the hotel that were not being used on the convention floor, including the escalator and all the equipment in the kitchen and in the executive offices.
Terasen Gas joined in with Turn It Off BC by encouraging their employees to reduce electricity consumption on May 16.
The Georgia Straight participated on the May 16 by consciously conserving energy.
BC Hydro lead by example by turning off its unnecessary lights and unplugging unnecessary loads at facilities across BC all day.
VanNet Community Newspapers and CanWest Media Sales office shut down their office lights and computers on Wed, May 16th to recognize the Turn It Off BC campaign for sustainability. 
Staff took this thought process home with them that evening and did their best to conserve energy that night.
CTV broadcast their 5pm - 6pm newscast from the street so that they didn't have to use power to run their studio. They turned-off the main lights in the atrium, the escalator and all unnecessary equipment.
The Legislative Building in Victoria turned off its lights for 30 minutes at dusk on the evening of the 16 May in a show of support for Turn If Off BC!
TELUS World of Science participated by turning off their dome lights on the night of the 16th.
Lions Gate Bridge participated
The PNE turned off unecessary lights and equipment on May 16
AMEC participated by measuring the electricity used on May 16th compared to the other days of that week.
Grouse Mountain turned off its floodlights.
30 Days of Sustainability proudly acknowledges the following municipalities who have endorsed 30 Days of Sustainability to date. Congratulations those who have highly effective energy conservation plans in place, and thank you for identifying extended action plans for symbolic participation on May 16th for Turn It Off BC.!
Well done!
- Bowen Island
- City of Burnaby
- City of Kamloops
- City of Langley
- City of Nanaimo
- City of North Vancouver
- City of Port Coquitlam
- City of Port Moody
- City of Prince George
- City of Richmond
- City of Surrey
- City of Victoria
- City of Vernon
- City of White Rock
- District of Sechlet
- District of North Vancouver
- District of West Vancouver
- District of Saanich
- District Of Squamish
- Town of Gibsons
The following municipalities agreed to make the following gestures:
- The City Of Burnaby has confirmed endorsement, encouraging staff to take conservation efforts currently in the workplace into their home. A proclamation has been issued declaring May 16 as Turn It off BC day.
- The Town of Gibsons has endorsed the program and is participating in spreading the word regarding energy consumption reduction through the community specifically to public buildings including the Main Library and School Board Head Offices. The Mayor, Barry J. Janyk, Mayor, has proclaimed the Town of Gibsons a participant in Turn It Off BC! 30 Days of Sustainability 2007.
- The City of Richmond are engaging in an internally driven inter-city challenge among municipality owned and managed buildings
- The District of Sechelt have issued a proclamation:
“Sechelt will undertake to reduce unnecessary energy consumption by ensuring all lights are turned off in the District Office from the close of business day on Wednesday May 16th to start of the business day on May 17th. Sechelt encourages all citizens to participate in Turn It Off BC Day by turning off unnecessary lighting on Wednesday, May 16th and to reduce their energy consumption not only during 30 Days of Sustainability campaign, but throughout the year.”
May 16th, 2007 was declared as “Turn It Off BC” Day by Mayor Cameron Reid. - The City of Vernon has issued a proclamation. The council adopted the following resolution: “That Council supports the annual 30 Days of Sustainability event, which celebrates and creates awareness around sustainability issues; and further encourages staff and the general public to be aware and take part in this initiative.”
- The City of Victoria issued a proclamation Turn It Off BC! endorsing 30 Days of Sustainability by seeking to inform and encourage a reduction of unnecessary energy consumption and by proclaiming the day of May 16th, 2007 as Turn It Off BC! in the City of Victoria, Capital City of the Province of British Columbia.
Alan Lowe, Mayor of the City of Victoria will issue a proclamation on April 12th encouraging staff to switch off unnecessary lighting on May 16th - The District of West Vancouver will be shut down the landmark floodlights at Ambleside Turf Field on the night of May 16th.
- The City of Prince George is turning off their iconic City Hall Tree Lights for the night of May 16th.
- The City of Nanaimo Mayor Gary Corpan proclaimed Wednesday, May 16th "Energy Conservation Day" day for the City of Nanaimo.
- The District of North Vancouver have issued a proclamation stating "together with other municipalities, the District of North Vancouver will participate in and promote 30 Days of Sustainability and Turn It Off BC; and the District already implements a comprehensive program to conserve energy in its municipal offices and parks and recreational facilities which turns off or minimizes operation of lighting, heating and office equipment after regular working hours; additional measures will be taken on May 16th whereby all employees will completely turn off computer screens (rather than turning them to 'sleep' mode) and any unnecessary lighting of facilities after work and residents will be encouraged to turn off unnecessary lighting at home to conserve energy; and ... I, Richard Walton, Mayor of the District of North Vancouver, do hereby proclaim May 16th as TURN IT OFF BC! – LIGHTS OUT in the District of North Vancouver as part of the 30 DAYS OF SUSTAINABILITY taking place from April 22 to May 21, 2007."
- The City of Port Moody has been inspired to implement an intercity facilities challenge.
- At the Regular Meeting of Council on May 1, 2007, the District of Squamish agreed to participate in "Turn It Off BC" campaign...; and further that staff sign the pledge on behalf of the District of Squamish committing to turning off lights and other electrical devices in District facilities where possible on the evening of Wednesday, May 16, 2007.
We welcome all participation from iconic structures, businesses and municipalities in the drive to continue energy conservation!
