Did you notice any famous buildings suddenly go ‘lights out’ in March? Because that’s when Earth Hour happened. But what is Earth Hour?
This annual, global event sees people around the world switching their lights off for an hour in the evening. It’s funded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and it was first held in Sydney, Australia in 2007. This year, Earth Hour was held on Saturday 22 March 2025 at 8.30pm local time.
During Earth Hour, some of the world’s most notable buildings also participate by going dark at the same time for 60 minutes, for example: Buckingham Palace, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, Beijing National Stadium and Tokyo Tower.
But Earth Hour isn’t just a one-off action for everyone to take once a year – it’s meant to encourage everyone to think about ways that they can make a positive impact on the environment, however small.
In fact, it’s the small actions that can make a huge difference if more people practice them consistently. You don’t have to wait until the next one: here are some simple energy-saving tips for lowering your energy usage beyond taking part in Earth Hour.
Energy-saving hacks for everyday life
- Unplug and switch off
Have you heard of ‘phantom load’ or ‘vampire energy’? While it has nothing to do with monsters, it does relate to wasted energy and money, which can also be a bit scary.
Electronics like TVs and laptops continue to draw a little power from the mains even when not in use – this can be true if they’re on standby, or even if they’re still plugged in at the mains. Instead of leaving them on standby, switch them off completely and unplug them from the mains for good measure.
- Look at your lighting
LED bulbs use far less energy than incandescent bulbs, and last far longer to boot. Smart bulbs. So even though swapping all the lights in your house for LED bulbs could seem like a big initial outlay, it can save you more money in the long run.
Consider also installing smart bulbs, which let you control them remotely – no more worrying about if you’ve left the lights on when you’ve left for work. You can also program them to switch on at certain times, for example just before you get back from work in the evening.
- Upgrade the way you heat your home
Your heating is only as efficient as your boiler, and old boilers have to work harder to warm your house up. Make sure you service your system once a year, and look into getting a new A-rated boiler if you haven’t already.
Using smart thermostats, also known as programmable thermostats, can also go a long way in helping you save on your heating bills. These let you set your heating to come on and off at specific times, or turn it on, off, down or up from your phone, wherever you are.
How small changes can save you money
Remembering to switch off the lights when you pop out in the evening might only save you a few pennies for that one evening. But by remembering to do it consistently every time you go out, and switch off lights in any room you’re not using, your savings will stack up over time. This goes for any quick energy-saving hack, whether it’s switching off and unplugging your electronics at night, turning down your thermostat by 1°C or turning the tap off while you brush your teeth.
If you’re forgetful, use tech that lets you ‘set and forget’. For example, you could even install motion sensor lights – these are lights that only switch on when they detect movement, and automatically switch off after a period of time without any movement. They’re sometimes used in offices to help businesses save money, but they can also be installed in your home.
Another way to help you make changes in your energy usage habits is to upgrade to a smart meter. Smart meters let you track your energy usage in near-real-time, and in pounds and pence, so you can take steps to save energy more easily. Some energy companies offer energy meter upgrades. For example, Utility Warehouse (UW) offers their customers free smart meters, including installation.
Saving energy to save the earth
Your energy-saving efforts don’t have to stop at taking part in Earth Hour. The real power of the event is how it acts as a reminder of how all of our actions contribute to the health of the environment, and how consistent, long-term good habits can go a long way in improving it.
By improving how efficiently we use energy and making a conscious effort to make sustainable choices, we can all look forward to a brighter, greener future just by making a few simple changes.
