By Kody Brittingham
Public Lands Management Student and Save the Earth President
When it comes to environmental conservation or stewardship, people often aren’t sure where to begin their journey. For instance, can you dive right into a Steve Irwin-esque campaign of animal rescue and rehabilitation? Are there smaller, more localized ways to participate?
Do you need a history of long, rigorous education? Fortunately, the answer to the latter question is “No.”
There are many ways to get involved in making a positive environmental impact. For example, you could sign up for a local litter clean-up campaign. You could simply share social media posts from universities and conservation groups.
The University’s Save the Earth club has another option that is easy to participate in: Earth Hour 2026.
What Is Earth Hour?
What is Earth Hour? This event began in Australia in 2007. According to the organization Earth Hour, 2.2 million people shut off their lights for one hour to show government agencies that they were more concerned about climate change than the government anticipated.
The next year, global participants jumped up to an estimated 50 million, according to Earth Hour. Local, state and national governments around the world began to participate. The event has continued to grow since then.
For just one hour on one day a year, Earth Hour is used to show a united front against the looming threat of human-driven climate change. From Ecuador to Spain, the public involvement in this movement led governments to draft and adopt legislation to create a positive impact on the natural world around us.
Eco-Friendly Actions You Can Take During Earth Hour 2026
How can you participate in Earth Hour 2026? It’s simple.
On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. your local time, turn off your household lights and reconnect with nature. The options are endless. For instance, you could:
- Take a walk
- Plant a tree
- Pick up litter
It might not seem like much – one house turning off the lights for an hour – but the combined impact can be extraordinary.
Also, there are other actions you can take:
- Go the extra mile and ask your local municipal government if it plans to participate.
- Share the social media hashtags #EarthHour, #BiggestHourForEarth, and #MyHourForEarth on your social media pages to raise awareness of the need for conservation.
- Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to participate in Earth Hour.
Save the Earth has participated in Earth Hour for years, making raising awareness for this movement its legacy project. Our faculty advisor, Anne Gorla, has spearheaded this awareness campaign, using the Save the Earth’s social media sites on LinkedIn® and Instagram® to spread the word.
Our club’s community partner, the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, has also used social media to raise awareness as part of its Environmental Education Initiative.
Get Involved in Environmental Conservation with Save the Earth
Interested in helping to change the environment for the better? Consider joining the Save the Earth as we continue our legacy project and show that even one hour can make a lasting difference. Together, we can be the change – one light at a time.
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About the Author
Kody Brittingham serves as the Chairman of the Bristol Township Environmental Advisory Committee in Pennsylvania. He is also President of the Save the Earth Club. Kody holds an undergraduate certificate in fish and wildlife management from American Military University and is currently taking courses for an undergraduate certificate in public lands management.
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