Growing steadily every year since its kick off back in 2007, Earth Hour returns again in 2010 with a concerted effort to taking a stand against climate change and global pollution.

Going down this coming Saturday March 27th at 8.30 PM sharp millions of environmentally aware people in scores of cities worldwide will show their commitment to stemming the tide of climate change by switching off their lights in unison for an hour. Likewise, city officials will be flicking the switch on the world’s most recognisable monuments to raise awareness towards global warming and show that humanity’s footprint on the earth need not be a scarring one.

As well as turning off household and city lights for the hour, Earth Hour officials are asking people to step up to the challenge of making a more lasting change for the good of the planet, and to consider additional methods of reducing our carbon footprint.

If you’re keen to play your part in Earth Hour this year then remember the time and date is 8.30 PM on Saturday March 27th and then check below for a neat checklist on easy breezy ways you can contribute to the cause and also check the video from 2009’s successful global event.

Simple starter tips for reducing your footprint

Ditch the take away coffee cup – this will reduce landfill and the amount of resources used to
produce your daily pick-me-up.
Try a meat-free day once a week – did you now that hundreds of litres of water are needed to
produce one kilogram of beef?
Double the efficiency of your car by putting another person in it! – this is an easy way to reduce
your mobility footprint.
Cut out one flight this year – air travel contributes significantly to your mobility footprint. Choosing
to holiday closer to home, or avoiding business travel, can make a really big difference.
Recycle your electronic gadgets – old mobiles, iPods, TVs, computers and radios contain lots of
material that can be recycled such gold, copper and coltan. None of this needs to end up as
landfill.
Walk, ride or take public transport to work once a week – this will save you money, improve your
health and lower your footprint.
Every night, make sure you don’t leave things on stand-by power – by turning appliances like TVs
off at the wall, you’re eliminating wasted energy and carbon.
And… ask your local MP what their Earth Hour resolution is, and what they are doing to address
climate change – this is a great way to make sure that your voice is heard and that your
representatives understand your concerns.