Residents are being urged to switch their thinking and turn off the lights for an hour, later this month.

The March 31 move is in support of Earth Hour, spearheaded here for the past three years by environmental group Greenrock.

Acting Environment Minister Michael Weeks described Earth Hour as a “wake-up call to our Island”.

“All of us need to know the importance of the unsustainable path Bermuda is on with our current energy consumption pattern,” he said. “We need to protect our natural scenic environment which is a major attraction of tourist and international business.”

Prizes will be on offer through student essay competitions, Mr Weeks said. The essays will be judged by the Bermuda Youth Library and the Earth Hour Council.

The Council comprises Greenrock, the Ministry of the Environment, Infrastructure and Planning, Belco, the City of Hamilton, and Wedco.

Bermuda’s consumption of electricity has shot up 35 percent since 1985, Mr Weeks noted.

“So, on Saturday, March 31, we wish to invite all of Bermuda’s residents to participate in this global event, and turn off all non-essential electric-powered items for one hour starting at 8.30pm, and to do the same at work and school before leaving for the weekend.”

Earth Hour, inspired five years ago by the World Wildlife Fund, reached record popularity last year with 135 countries taking part.

www.greenrock.org.