The results are in and residents of the North Coast successfully reduced their hydro usage during Earth Hour 2015.
Figures released by BC Hydro indicate both Prince Rupert and Port Edward saw a drop in usage of 2.3 per cent between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on March 28, putting the two communities tied for seventh among all in B.C. Across the province, there was a total of 15 fewer megawatts consumed during Earth Hour, the equivalent of turning off approximately 680,000 LED light bulbs.
Whistler had the largest reduction in B.C., dropping its energy consumption by 7.2 per cent. Kitimat, the only other northwest community with data listed, saw a 1.5 per cent reduction
But it's not all good news - the 15 megawatt reduction is the lowest recorded in the eight years the province has been and down more than 50 megawatts from the 65 that were conserved last year and 121 megawatts less than was experienced in 2013.
Earth Hour, which started in Sydney Australia in 2007, is an annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund in which people are encouraged to turn off all unnecessary lights and electronics for an hour.