Union joined with Schenectady County to celebrate Earth Hour on Saturday, March 26.
From 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., the lights were turned off in the following buildings: Nott Memorial, Schaffer Library, Memorial Chapel, Grant Hall (Admissions) and Reamer Campus Center.
The Schenectady County Legislature had asked residents to participate in Earth Hour by turning off all non-essential lighting, appliances and electronics.
Union’s effort was led by Laura MacManus-Spencer, assistant professor of chemistry, and Mary Ellen Contompasis, the College’s sustainability coordinator.
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for an hour to raise awareness about climate change. More than 128 countries and 4,500 cities and towns are expected to participate this year.
Last spring, Union was included among the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges, according to The Princeton Review’s first “Guide to Green Colleges.” The free guide, produced in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, includes schools that have “demonstrated an above average commitment to sustainability in terms of campus infrastructure, activities and initiatives.”