Earth Hour 2018 saves 300,000 kWh of electricity in Shenzhen

The iconic 442-meter Kingkey 100 Tower in Shenzhen joins in the Earth Hour 2018 event on March 24. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Earth Hour 2018 held in Shenzhen on March 24 has helped the southern Chinese city save over 300,000 kWh of electricity, according to reports from local media outlet sznews.com.

As a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, the event is held annually to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on a specific day at the end of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet. It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Ever since, it has grown to engage more than 7,000 cities and towns across 187 countries and territories.

The Kingkey 100 Tower turns off all its lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on March 24. [Photo/Xinhua]

The saved electricity is tantamount to saving nearly 100 tons of coal and reducing carbon dioxide emission by over 300 tons.

Shenzhen's power supply administration has carried out the event for nine consecutive years. From 2010 to 2017, the activity helped the city save over 1.2 million kWh of electricity. 

Shenzhen locals use a telescope to observe the stars in a park, which is an activity in response to the local power supply administration's call to join the Earth Hour 2018. [Photo/sznews.com]