- Date Wednesday, 13 March 2024
What
On 23 March 2024, Better Bankside is encouraging Bankside businesses and residents to take part in Earth Hour. Earth Hour is an international campaign encouraging people around the world to switch off their lights. This years’ campaign ‘The Biggest Hour for Earth’ is attempting to create the greatest impact so far.
For one hour from 8.30pm – 9.30pm on Saturday 23 March, we are encouraging Banksiders to ‘blackout’ their home or workplace by turning off all the lights and doing something positive for our planet.
Why
The carbon footprint of the Better Bankside BID area is hefty – over 97,000 tCO2e. A staggering 87% of these emissions come from energy with nearly half (47%) of total emissions coming from businesses. We’ve worked closely with local consultants Eight Versa to get a better picture of the action we can take to reduce our carbon emissions. If businesses alone turned off their lights at night, this would lead to a substantial reduction in emissions, the equivalent of over 8 million miles driven by an average car, 650 homes’ electricity for one year and 404 million smartphones charged. Taking part in Earth Hour will illustrate to businesses and individuals how simple it can be to make small changes that have a big impact.
Where
We want as many businesses as possible to be involved with Blackout Bankside. The BID covers the area from the riverside in the north to Borough Station and along Great Suffolk Street in the south, and from Blackfriars Road and Hatfields in the west, and east beyond Borough High Street to Trinity Street.
How
There are lots of ways to be involved, but for our Blackout Bankside for Earth Hour initiative, we’re simply asking people to ensure the lights in their business or property are turned off for one hour on the evening of 23 March between 8.30-9.30pm:
- For individuals
Turn off the lights in your home and take time to reflect on the importance of our Earth for an hour. Perhaps plan some activities for the hour such as a game or attend a special Earth Hour event, or simply sit and reflect by candlelight.
- For businesses
As commercial properties produce the most emissions, we’re keen on as many businesses as possible to take part. Even if you’re not in your workplace at the weekend, but you want to make a difference, speak to your building or property manager to see what is possible.
Activities for Earth Hour
It’s the perfect time to reflect on the importance of our Earth and how our small actions can collectively make a difference. Suggestions could be:
- Switch off your lights and take an hour to reflect on what nature means to you.
- Enjoy a meat-free meal by candlelight with your friends and family.
- Put your phone on do not disturb, press play on our Earth Hour Spotify playlist and enjoy some down time to yourself.
Get social
We want to share far and wide the importance of Earth Hour, so please share how you’re spending the hour with us on social media using #Myhourforearth and #BlackoutBankside
Spread the word
Download the Blackout Bankside poster and help us spread the word about this important event.
Find out more
Discover more about Earth Hour at the official website, and more about Better Bankside’s sustainability initiatives here.
How Better Bankside is supporting businesses to reduce energy:
Southwark Climate Collective
Better Bankside launched the Southwark Climate Collective to support local businesses on their sustainability journey. The project will provide free decarbonisation support for 160 SMEs across Southwark, including 55 Bankside businesses. This will help businesses to reduce energy, recycle more, consolidate deliveries and engage with their supply chains.
Business Climate Challenge success
60 businesses across Bankside taking part in the Mayor of London’s Business Climate Challenge. Supporting SMEs to reduce energy consumption by 10%, reducing emissions and providing cost savings to businesses. Pilot programme: businesses on average reduced energy consumption by 16% with over £8,000 in cost savings, and a cumulative reduction of 213tCO2e.
Bankside Green Champions
For London Climate Action Week 2023, Better Bankside launched Bankside Green Champions. Over 20 Bankside businesses are taking part in this innovative new way to take positive environmental action. Bankside Green Champions rewards positive action including energy savings, switching off lights and being more sustainable at work.
