Perth: Moving Beyond the 'City of Lights'

Media Release, 28 March 2008  

Greens MLC Giz Watson has urged the City of Perth Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi, to persuade the CBD to turn off lights in empty buildings all year round, not just during Earth Hour.

“In the past City businesses and Government Departments have used excuses for leaving the city towers fully lit at night. These have included tourism appeal, security, and access for cleaners.

“The challenges of climate change and peak oil are to modify and adapt our behaviour to the environment we live in.

“This may mean cleaning practices need to be rationalised. For instance starting at the top of the building, and progressively turning off the lights on each floor as the cleaning team works their way down the tower. Security efforts should be centred at ground floor and basement levels, unless anyone seriously expects external breaches on the 13th floor.

“Perth can promote an image to tourists as the ‘ Earth-friendly City ’ where they would like to visit. I don’t have any problem with the top level of buildings remaining lit if there is a strong feeling that the buildings need to be outlined.

“Events such as Earth Hour can be useful to raise awareness of the need to conserve energy, but people should not feel that one hour in the year is all it takes.”