PORT ANGELES — One of the county’s most prominent faces will go dark tonight.
The Clallam County Courthouse clock tower lights, at Fourth and Lincoln streets, will be turned off at the end of the workday as the community prepares to join hundreds of others in Earth Hour, a worldwide power-down set for 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The 130,000-square-foot courthouse complex will also shut off other “nonessential” lights, computers and appliances tonight through Monday morning, added Joel Winborn, county parks, fair and facilities director.
But “the clock will keep running,” he promised.
That’ll help others around Port Angeles observe Earth Hour.
Conserve resources
The idea of this event, initiated four years ago in Sydney by the World Wildlife Fund, is to turn off unnecessary lights and electrical machinery and, perhaps while enjoying some candlelight, imagine other ways to conserve the Earth’s resources.
It wasn’t known Thursday if Earth Hour will be observed with any organized events in East Jefferson County.
Next door to the Clallam County Courthouse, Port Angeles City Hall also will shut down nonessential lights and such, said city spokeswoman Teresa Pierce.
“We always try to do that,” she added, and “there’s a little more emphasis” this weekend in light of Earth Hour.
Like organizations in cities from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to Vancouver, B.C., Port Angeles’ St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will host an Earth Hour celebration.
Saturday gathering
Everyone is welcome at St. Andrew’s, 510 E. Park Ave., for the 8:30 p.m. Saturday gathering, said organizer Gary Heaton.
The church will have a few lights on for safety — and a lot more candles, so guests can share poetry, prayers, readings and meditations on caring for the Earth.
“It’s not a worship service. It’s a spiritual gathering,” Heaton added.
For details, phone 360-457-4862 or visit www.StAndrewPA.com.
Of course, individuals the world over can observe Earth Hour by staying home and reading, playing cards or music by candlelight.
The St. Andrew’s gathering is meant to remind Port Angeles residents that they’re not alone in their efforts to conserve.
“We’re just trying to help people feel part of something much bigger than themselves,” Heaton said.
‘Beyond the hour’
At the Clallam County Courthouse, meanwhile, a new staffer hopes to see his colleagues — and the whole county — join an effort known as “beyond the hour.”
Turning off some lights around the courthouse for a weekend “is symbolic but significant,” said Perry Spring, the county’s shared resource conservation manager.
Since September, Spring has been studying and introducing energy-saving measures for the cities of Port Angeles and Sequim, Olympic Medical Center, Clallam Transit and Clallam County.
Spring believes the courthouse and Port Angeles City Hall, with their dimmed presence this weekend, will serve as visible reminders of Earth Hour.
More important, he hopes the buildings and one less-lighted hour will have a ripple effect.
Of course, this effect could be salutary for the county’s coffers, too. The electricity bill for the courthouse complex last month was around $15,000, Winborn said.
So why wouldn’t the courthouse power down its nonessential lights and machines every weekend?
“Good question,” said Jim Jones, county administrator.
One reason is that some county staffers, Jones included, come in to work weekends.
Spring, however, said he’ll keep that discussion going as he continues his quest for energy-smart practices.
Spring also welcomes email from county residents about ways they’re conserving at rcm@co.clallam.wa.us.
To learn more about Earth Hour around the globe, search for it on Facebook.com or visit www.EarthHour.org.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
