Conserving energy should be a lifelong commitment

Dubai: In 2008, Gulf News readers told us how they were spending Earth Hour.

This year, we decided to get in touch with those readers to follow up on their energy efficiency during, and to learn whether they plan to switch off their lights tonight.

Udaya Sathyamoorthy and husband Robert Kilgour, Indian and New Zealand nationals respectively, make sure that they do their part in saving energy.

Sathyamoorthy, a materials engineer, said: "In 2008, for Earth Hour we switched off all our lights and appliances in our home and went out for a walk. We took pictures of the Shaikh Zayed Road skyline and are hoping to compare it with [photos taken] this year."

This year, Sathyamoorthy and Kilgour are planning to repeat the ritual and are hoping their new picture shows a big difference.

Kilgour, who has a master's degree in energy management, makes it a point to save electricity whenever possible. One way in which the couple achieves this is by using compact fluorescent bulbs.

Sathyamoorthy said: "We have always been energy conscious. My husband audits the utility bill every month and compares it with the previous year's [for the same month]."

If the amount is higher, the couple tries to determine why. Padma Sudhakar, a secretary, last year chose to switch off all her lights and spend Earth Hour with her family in a park, near her home in Dubai.

Sudhakar, an Indian national, said: "I saw this as an opportunity to give something back to the Earth and also spend quality time with my husband and two children."

This led to more than just one hour of power saving, as Sudhakar's family spent the rest of the night enjoying the weather.

It has become a common practice for the family to switch off lights when they are not in use.

She said: "Earth Hour is a serious occasion and should be more frequently practiced." Her family will be spending time in the park this year, too.

Shakeel Ali, who works in advertising, decided to use Earth Hour to spend time with his mother in 2008.

He said: "I took my mother down to Buhairah Corniche in Sharjah, where I live, and sat in the park."

When they returned home, Ali used only one lamp to light the house. He spent the night talking to his mother. Although he sometimes forgets, Ali tries to switch off his lights whenever they are not needed.