Union Climate Action
EARTH HOUR 2012– JOIN US This year we Union Climate Action, the PSA and TEU are again joining forces with the World Wildlife Fund to take part in Earth Hour. Earth Hour is a global event that shows that a simple energy-saving act repeated by many can make a difference. Since it began in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become the largest mass environmental action in history. In 2009, hundreds of millions of people in more than 4,000 cities including 1.5 million New Zealanders - turned off their lights for one hour in a graphic demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change. This year Earth Hour will take place on Saturday 31 March 2012 from 8.30 – 9.30pm. In the lead-up to Earth Hour, WWF are encouraging everyone to make an “I will if you will” challenge to their work-mates, friends or family to help save energy and save the planet. I Will If You Will is a simple promise and a challenge. A CEO can challenge their peers, a department can challenge a department, an office can challenge an office, a company can challenge its staff, clients or industry. We’ve included some ideas for workplace challenges you could use on the next page.
How can I get involved? There are four easy ways you can show your support for Earth Hour. Just visit the weblink below and use the material in this letter.
1. I will visit the Earth Hour website to find out more about what’s happening in my area
www.earthhour.com 2. I’ll start by putting up information about Earth Hour at work. 3. I’ll challenge some of my colleagues to an “I Will If You Will” challenge 4. I’ll challenge my manger/employer to an “I Will If You Will” challenge. (Letter attached)
TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa
I Will if You Will Here are some ideas for promises and challenges that you could mix and match to find the right combination for you and your workplace. We would love to hear about any other ideas you come up with.
Union Climate Action
I will…(the promise) If you will…(the challenge) • Bake for morning tea/staff meeting • Clean up the kitchen for a week • Go on a (Fairtrade) coffee run for colleagues • Bike/walk/take public transport to get to work • Phone our suppliers to source eco-products • Talk to the cleaners • Clean out the fridge • Make note pads out of scrap paper • Set up a composting bin • Take home the compost • Host a swap event • Set up a carpool • Take the stairs instead of the lift • Commit to electronic filing • Collect and take hazardous waste to the hazardous waste disposal • Offer up unused and cluttering office equipment on Freecycle • Make recycling boxes for each desk from paper boxes
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Install a bike rack Switch to eco-cleaning products Install solar hot water heating Switch off lights at night Switch to recycled paper Set printing to double-sided as the default Everyone commit to recycling Everyone commit to composting Switch to energy efficient light bulbs Install motion sensor lights in the meeting rooms/bathrooms Install a shower Set up an eco-committee Start work on a sustainability policy/update the policy Audit the office’s energy usage Switch to a greener electricity supplier Set up/provide training on video conferencing Everyone switch off their computer at the end of the day Switch to greener suppliers/review the procurement policy Switch to Fairtrade coffee and tea Introduce regular energy/travel reporting – set targets? Trial a minimal paper office Provide regular environmental updates to employees Switch off the lights for an hour!
It’s important we record all Earth Hour activities and pledges, so please register details of what you or your employer sign up for on the Earth Hour website www.earthhour.com With this letter we have included posters for your workplace. Please post these up in your workplace, even if you can’t organise an activity yourself. This is a great opportunity to show your support for action on climate change. We hope you will join us.
TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa
To: From:
Union Climate Action
Date:
Earth Hour 2012 Dear We would like our workplace to participate in Earth Hour 2012. Earth Hour is a global event that shows that a simple energy-saving act repeated by many can make a difference, and symbolises the massive public support for continued action on the environment. This year our union is working other unions and with the WWF to encourage workplaces to take part. Since it began in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become the largest mass-environmental action in history. In 2009, Earth Hour saw hundreds of millions of people in more than 4,000 cities - including 1.5 million New Zealanders - turn off lights for one hour in a demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change. This year Earth Hour will take place on Saturday 31 March 2010 from 8.30 – 9.30pm. More information is available at www.earthhour.com We would like your help to encourage our workplace to take part in Earth Hour by: • Letting everyone know about Earth Hour • Encouraging all staff to take part by turning their lights off at home between 8:30 and 9:30 pm on Saturday 27 March. • Making sure there are no lights left on in our buildings (unless they’re needed for work or safety purposes) at that time. • Working with us to identify some easy energy saving steps we can take to reduce our workplace’s energy use.
I will if you will This year, in the lead-up to Earth Hour, WWF are encouraging everyone to make an “I will if you will” challenge to their employer and/or colleagues to help save energy and save the planet. I Will If You Will - a simple promise and a challenge. A CEO can challenge their peers, a department can challenge a department, an office can challenge an office, a company can challenge its staff, clients or industry. My challenge to you is that I will:
If you will:
Yours sincerely,