Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

For Immediate Release, March 24, 2009

Mayor Endorses “EARTH HOUR” To Spotlight Concerns on Global Warming
Orders Lights Out in Haverhill For One Hour this Saturday Evening

Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced today that the City of Haverhill is participating in Earth Hour, an international event to raise awareness about climate change. Organized by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour 2009 asks all participants to extinguish all non-essential lighting this Saturday, March 28th, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Earth Hour is the world’s largest environmental event. Earth Hour urges people throughout the world to turn off all nonessential lighting for one hour, this Saturday from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM to spotlight their concern for energy usage and global warming. It is expected that one billion people throughout the world, and over 2,300 cities, will participate and turn out their lights in support of Earth Hour.

To participate in Earth Hour” the Mayor has ordered all nonessential lighting in all municipal buildings in Haverhill to be turned off this weekend. This will include nonessential lighting schools, and municipal buildings. Flags will taken inside, and when possible, lighting will be turned off for all outdoor monuments during the weekend. The Mayor also urged all residents and businesses to participate.

“By turning off the lights, we show our concern for our environment, and we show that local action can make a difference in protecting our environment,” Mayor Fiorentini said. “We are proud to join with so many other communities throughout the world in showing our concern. I urge all local residents and businesses to show their concern for the environment by participating.”

Earth Hour participants will turn off all non-essential lighting on their properties, especially architectural lighting, from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28th. Any lighting that is essential for active use or related to public safety, such as street and emergency lighting, will remain on. If any lights need to remain on for additional functions within the building, organizers ask that the shades be drawn if possible.

By participating in “Earth Hour”, emphasis will be on the saving of energy, reducing carbon emissions into our air, and the preservation of the natural resources used to produce this energy.

The Mayor said that Earth Hour would be the latest step, but by no means the last step, in the Mayor’s efforts to reduce energy usage throughout the city. “We intend to use Earth Hour to examine the lighting in all municipal and school buildings, and on all monuments, to see what can be turned off at night. Saving on energy costs is critical during this budget crisis.”

The Mayor said that the idea of Haverhill’s participating in Earth Hour was sent to him by a constituent, Mindy Soares of Bradford. “This is proof that one person can make a difference in changing the environment” said Mayor Fiorentini.

For more information: Visit at http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php