• Earth Hour Main Page
• 2009 Photo Album
• Student Earth Hour Projects
• About Earth Hour
• International Year of Astronomy 2009
• 2009 Business Participants
• 2009 Families & Individual Participants
• Proclamation
  In Support of Earth Hour
• Homer Glen Gets Mentioned on World Wildlife Fund Website
• Environment Home Page
• Outdoor Lighting
• Light Pollution

IL Congresswoman Judy Biggert and
Homer Glen Mayor James Daley

During the Earth Hour celebration on Saturday, March 28, 2009, Homer Glen Mayor Jim Daley presented Representative Judy Biggert with a copy of the Homer Glen Lighting Ordinance, encouraging her to "spread it around the world."  Homer Glen’s efforts to bring awareness to light pollution has attracted national attention.  The concept to “not use light that you don’t need and shine the light you need, where you need it” is an instrumental part of the ordinance.  Mayor Daley noted that the night sky is a natural resource that Home Glen is dedicated to preserving.

2009 Photo Album

The Homer Glen Environment Committee planned the second annual Earth Hour event to coordinate with the world-wide Earth Hour and The International Year of Astronomy.  Mark your calendar!

Lights Out Ceremony - Congresswoman Biggert Celebrates Earth Hour in Homer Glen

Please join Congresswoman Judy Biggert and the Village of Homer Glen in celebrating Earth Hour 2009.  A special "lights out" ceremony will be held at the Homer Glen McDonalds on 143rd St. and Bell Rd. beginning at 8:00 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m. Congresswoman Judy Biggert will lead the effort to turn off non-essential lights for one hour.  Bring your family and friends to welcome Congresswoman Biggert and be part of this historic event.

Mayor Daley of Homer Glen will be sharing the limelight this Saturday with Congresswoman Judy Biggert and Ronald McDonald; but the limelight will actually be candlelight. Earth Hour 2009 promises to be bigger and better than ever with a â�‚��œflick of a switchâ�‚��„� celebration at McDonaldâ�‚��„�s located at Bell Road and 143rd Street in Homer Glen. â�‚��“As a flag ship community representing small town U.S.A., Homer Glen is honored to have Congresswoman Biggert choose our community in which to celebrate Earth Hour 2009,â�‚� stated Mayor Jim Daley. Congresswoman Judy Biggert will be attending the Earth Hour celebration as part of her efforts to support the World Wildlife Fundâ�‚��„�s initiative. Mrs. Biggert recently sponsored a resolution in support of Earth Hour. She will be attending Earth Hour events in Chicago early on Saturday and chose to finish her day in Homer Glen. â�‚��“â�‚��“Iâ�‚��„�m thrilled to join Mayor Daley and other Homer Glen residents in celebrating this world-wide green initiative. Earth Hour is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the need for clean, renewable energy alternatives,â�‚� said Biggert, a senior member of the House Science and Technology Committee. â�‚��“Our environment and economic prosperity depend on our reducing our dependence on foreign energy sources. Thatâ�‚��„�s why itâ�‚��„�s so important to promote research and development on alternatives like hydrogen, geothermal, and clean coal technologies.â�‚�

The Village of Homer Glen was one of the first communities to sign on for Earth Hour in its inaugural year in 2008. With the adoption of its landmark lighting ordinance in December 2007, the Village has taken the lead in preserving the night sky as a natural resource. Mayor Daley explained the basic tenet of the ordinance as â�‚��“Donâ�‚��„�t use any more light than you really need, and shine the light where you really need it.â�‚� The ordinance requires full cut off lighting to ensure light does not trespass onto neighboring properties or up into the night sky thus obscuring opportunities to see the stars. Proponents of night sky protection have also identified harmful environmental and heath impacts as a result of the loss of dark skies.

Homer Glen officials hope to exceed last yearâ�‚��„�s successes with more than 60 businesses and a long list of residents that have signed on in support of Earth Hour. Trustee Margaret Sabo , Chair of the Environment Committee noted the efforts of volunteer Debra Norvil in planning for this yearâ�‚��„�s event. â�‚��“Without the hard work of our Environment Committee volunteers and most especially Debra Norvil, who has taken the lead on orchestrating this event, we wouldnâ�‚��„�t see the recognition Homer Glen has received for its earth friendly effortsâ�‚�, stated Sabo. Commonwealth Edison reported a 7 % drop in electrical usage for the entire service territory during the Earth Hour observation in 2008. Homer Glen officials hope to see that drop even further this year. Ronald McDonald will be on hand at the event to pass out coupons for free ice cream cones and cookies at the Homer Glen Mc Donaldâ�‚��„�s restaurant. Earth Hour participants are invited to eat by candle light at McDonaldâ�‚��„�s, Pepeâ�‚��„�s and Chesdenâ�‚��„�s in celebration of Earth Hour 2009.

About Earth Hour

Cities Around the U.S. Will Turn Out Lights

From World Wildlife Fund website

Excitement is building all over the US and around the world. Here's a quick update on what's developed this week for Earth Hour:

• More cities turning out: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and the Village of Homer Glen, Illinois. We've heard rumblings from Houston and Seattle as well and would also love to get Washington, DC on board. If you're a DC resident, let Mayor Fenty know you want the city to turn out!
• Help us turn out the lights on the US Capitol Domeâ�‚��€�write to your Senators or Member of Congress.
• What goes on in Vegas doesn't always stay there: Earth Hour officially launched in Sin City at a press event featuring a Panda Bear and Vegas showgirls. The Strip will indeed go dark for the full 60 minutesâ�‚��€�the only time the lights have been dimmed except briefly in 1998 in honor of Frank Sinatra's death.
• Other city news: Chicago held its official launch event last week, with Mayor Daley again pledging his support. Next up? Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas!
• The city of lights goes dark: Paris and 27 other French cities announced they'll take part in Earth Hour, with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame going dark. A total of 405 cities in 74 countries have pledged to participateâ�‚��€�double the number of countries from last year.
• Download a very cool Shepard Fairey poster: The famed Obama-portrait artist has created a series of "Vote Earth" posters urging people to turn off their lights during Earth Hour. Available at www.earthhourUS.org in either the tools or media section.
• EH for kids, too: In addition to creating teaching guides for K-12 students, we've also created a special section of the website just for young people. Check it out at www.earthourkids.org, where there's information about how students can promote Earth Hour at their school or within their community.
• And don't forget to mark your calendar...Earth Hour is March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm. Turn out. Take action.

Thanks!

The Earth Hour Team

Turn Out. Take Action.

Student Earth Hour Projects

Oak Prairie Junior High School in Will County School District 92:
Mr. Jacobson's 8th Grade science students developed their own Earth Hour projects:

Mr. Jacobson's 8th Grade Science Earth Hour Projects

Ludwig School in Will County School District 92:
Mr. Hagedorn's 5th grade students produced their own Earth Hour commercials:

Mr. Hagedorn's 5th Grade Earth Hour Commercials

Earth Hour 2009 Participants - Families and Individuals

The following families and individuals have expressed their support of Earth Hour:

Earth Hour 2009 Participants - Businesses

The following businesses have expressed their support of Earth Hour:

Proclamation