Just this week, over 460 Miamians officially joined the World Wildlife Fund to launch Earth Hour, bringing together our community in the recognition that even a few simple changes can have a huge impact in the global fight to halt climate change. This is the greatest grassroots movement of our time. 

Earth Hour started in Australia following a simple question: what if everyone were to simultaneously turn off their lights for one hour?   The impact of this action not only lessens the dependence on energy and has the effect of removing hundreds of tons of noxious gas from our atmosphere, but more importantly sends a strong message that for this global problem, individuals can affect the solution.

I was one of the first mayors to sign the US Conference of Mayor’s Climate Change Agreement, with nearly 800 other Mayors from throughout the country, pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to pre-1990 levels.  Together, this groups of mayors represents nearly 80% of all Americans.   

Here in Miami, we are moving quickly to implement changes. Just a few of these include: sustainability through design; getting people out of their cars by creating a compact, walkable, bike friendly city through Miami 21; increasing the fuel efficiency of our city fleet; retrofitting city buildings for energy efficiency improvements; promoting green buildings through the US Green Building Council’s LEED rating system; creating new public resources such as the Miami Green Lab; and promoting cleaner, renewable energy generation. 

And, by the end of this month, City Hall will go green.  This historic building will have solar panels and energy efficient lighting upgrades, new dual flush toilets, and energy efficient and green-purchasing practices implemented throughout operations, becoming quite possibly the first City Hall in the state to use solar powered energy.

While all these changes are exciting, but no problem can be solved without the help of individuals.  This is why Earth Hour is so important.  On Saturday while the lights are out, we ask people to think about what they can do at home, in their neighborhood, and at work. 

These are ten simple, cost-effective ideas I recommend:

• Replace one incandescent bulb with a CFL bulb
• Clean or replace your air conditioner filter
• Insulate your water heater
• Get a home energy audit and follow it up with proper home insulation
• Adjust your thermostat 2 degrees up in summer, 2 down in winter
• Walk or Bike more and drive 10 miles less each week
• Increase the mpg of your car by 3 gallons by keeping your tires properly inflated - check your tires next time you fill your tank
• Use less hot water with a low flow showerhead and by washing your clothes in cold water
• Recycle half your waste at home – if you are unsure what you can recycle or when your weekly curbside pickup us, call 311.
• Plant a native tree – the Go Native guide is available online at www.MiamiGov.com/MSI 

This is our opportunity to make a difference.  On March 29th, from 8 to 9 p.m., I urge everyone in Miami to turn out their lights for one hour — Earth Hour. Join us.

Turn out your lights!