PRESS RELEASE: Nearly 9 Million Square Feet of Downtown Hartford Offices To Throw The Switch For "Lights Out Hartford" This Thursday, April 25, 2013

HARTFORD,:  This Thursday evening, Hartford will celebrate Earth Day at the Connecticut Science Museum with “Lights Out Hartford” beginning at 7:30 p.m. and culminating at 10 p.m. when downtown Hartford buildings “throw the switch for charity” by turning off non-essential lights.

Now in its second year, the annual event is an awareness campaign focused on eliminating wasted energy.  Nearly 20 buildings, totaling almost 9,000,000 square feet of Hartford’s downtown office space, have taken the “Lights Out Hartford Pledge” to reduce non-essential electricity by turning off unnecessary lights and other loads overnight and on weekends.  Last year, 1.7 million square feet participated.

“We are thrilled that we are nearing our pledge goal of 10 million square feet,” said Fred Klein, of the Lights Out Hartford Planning Committee. “With the addition of a dozen new buildings making the pledge this year, it shows that the Hartford area’s commitment to energy conservation is a growing movement.”

Some of Hartford’s most iconic buildings, businesses and organizations that have taken the 2013 pledge include:  Aetna, Constitution Plaza, City Place, Connecticut Science Center, Goodman Square, One State Street, Konover Commercial at 55 Elm Street and 31-45 Pratt Street, Legrand at 60 Woodland St, Northeast Utilities/CL&P 56 Prospect Street and at its Berlin Campus, Phoenix, Siemon Company, State Market Hartford, LLC at State House Square and CT River Plaza.  By turning off unused lights, these businesses demonstrate control over eliminating wasted energy, while also saving money and decreasing their carbon footprint.  The commitment of 8.8 million square feet equates to millions of dollars in energy savings each year and avoiding thousands of tons of CO₂ polluting our air. 

Funds raised by “Lights Out Hartford” will benefit Rebuilding Together Hartford, a national nonprofit organization in operation for more than 30 years, that provides free home renovations for low income homeowners.

About Lights Out Hartford:  In its second year, Lights Out Hartford is an annual Energy Awareness campaign to help make Hartford an example of smart energy use and conservation.  Participating building managers will coordinate a visible signal to demonstrate their commitment to the goal of eliminating energy waste by turning off their building lights at a designated time on Thursday night, April 25, at 10:00 pm. 

For additional information, to register your building or organization to “turn out the lights,” or purchase a ticket to the event being held at the Connecticut Science Center, please visit:  www.LightsOutHartford.com

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