Rose Lee

Last year, more than 2.7 million Chicagoland residents came together to turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. As the bright lights of Chicago dimmed, the city turned its attention towards the need for substantial, long-term action to raise awareness about energy efficiency and global climate change.



From the Sears Tower to the Hancock Center, Chicago's iconic skyline was dramatically darkened, as were key landmarks and vistas such as North Michigan Avenue, Navy Pier, the Museum Campus, Millennium Park and the Theater District.

And as landmarks, businesses, retailers, restaurants, hotels, schools, museums, parks, theater marquees and households turned off their lights for one hour, the Chicagoland region reported an electricity savings of 7 percent - the carbon emissions equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road for one hour or planting 158 acres of trees.

Chicago is proud to return as a flagship city for Earth Hour 2009, and looks forward to building on last year's tremendous success. With the flip of a switch, we'll once again send a powerful message of concern beyond our city that demonstrates a readiness to address the harmful effects of climate change.

Sign up now so we can count you as a participant and give you even more ways to help save the planet.

We thank our partners for Earth Hour 2009: ComEd, City of Chicago, Leo Burnett.

Want to help the environment and save money? Take the Chicago Climate Action Plan $800 Savings Challenge.