Home & Garden

Watch For Martinez's 'Earth Hour' Darkness

Residents are encouraged to celebrate the city's commitment to protecting the planet by turning off the lights at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

If it seems quite dark on Saturday night — like everyone in the city is being a dim bulb — it's because Martinez is being sustainable.

The city, and dozens of other cities around the country, are participating in the Earth Hour City Challenge. With more than 70 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions generated by cities, cities have been mobilized to mobilize action toward a more renewable future, according to the Earth Hour notice on the city website.

The city hopes to build on its Climate Action Plan launched in 2009, including plans for recycling, Earth Day and electric vehicle charging stations.

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The city estimates that 7 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions are from residential electricity.

What will Martinez residents do with the lights turned off Saturday night? Does that include the television, too?

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