What is Earth Hour?

Earth Hour, is a world-wide celebration where millions of people around the world turn off their lights for one hour to tackle the dual challenges facing the planet – climate change and loss of nature. Earth Hour started off as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. It has grown to engage 192 countries and territories to raise awareness for energy consumption and effects on the environment. By turning off non-essential electricity, participants join a global movement to raise awareness and take action for a healthy planet. For more information, please visit Earth Hour Reports.

How to take part?

During Earth Hour, TDSB schools and offices are asked to go as electricity-free as possible for ONE HOUR on March 21st at 2pm. Wherever possible, our schools and offices will turn off all interior lighting (except necessary emergency lights), any non-essential electronics and powerbars.

In 2011, the TDSB experienced its highest reduction in energy usage (29.9%.) at schools and offices. This year energy reduction will be tracked at each TDSB school, with the top 25 Elementary and Secondary schools getting a shout out! Let’s make this year our biggest energy reduction ever!

Educators and Students:

Earth Hour presents a great opportunity to raise awareness about environmental issues and run campaigns focused on energy conservation and climate change. Its sharp focus allows you to undertake as little or as much awareness and action building as your school is ready for. The TDSB Earth Hour poster/checklist can serve as an organizing tool for classroom or school-wide endeavours:

• Download 8.5 x 14 B&W
• Download 8.5 x 14 Colour

Community:

This Earth Hour on March 22nd, millions around the world will be turning off the lights and speaking up why nature matters. Families and community members can participate from 8:30 to 9:30 pm. Consider registering your actions or event at the Global Earth Hour website.

Connect with us

Share your #TDSBEarthHour actions with @EcoSchoolsTDSB. Tell us if your school is already going beyond Earth Hour itself! Do students take an active role in organizing the campaign? Inspire and challenge other schools across the city.

2025 Results!

Please raise a glass to Ancaster PS and Danforth CTI for reducing their electricity use the most!

Our TDSB Energy and Climate Action team have the tools to track energy use at each of our schools. They compare the Earth Hour usage to the same time one week earlier, and come up with the percent saved. Overall, Elementary schools are pulling off much better results than Secondary - and some High Schools actually used more electricty than the week before! We hope all schools continue throughout the year to reduce energy consumption.

	Elementary	% Saved	Secondary	% Saved
1	ANCASTER PS	43%	DANFORTH CTI	28%
2	ETOBICOKE YEAR ROUND ALT.	43%	CENTRAL COMMERCE	20%
3	PAPE AVE PS	32%	MALVERN CI	19%
4	SLONE PS	30%	WILLIAM LYON MACKENZIE CI	18%
5	ALPHA ALT.	30%	SILVERTHORN CI	18%
6	WALTER PERRY JR PS	27%	ETOBICOKE CI	17%
7	LORD ROBERTS JR PS	25%	LAKESHORE CI	16%
8	BIRCH CLIFF HEIGHTS PS	25%	DREWRY SS	15%
9	CLAIRLEA PS	23%	BIRCHMOUNT PARK CI	15%
10	BENNINGTON HEIGHTS ES	23%	EMERY CI	15%
11	DUNLACE PS	22%	GEORGES VANIER SS / WOODBINE JHS	14%
12	GRACEFIELD PS	22%	CENTRAL ETOBICOKE HS	13%
13	RENE GORDON ES	22%	WEST HILL CI	13%
14	WEDGEWOOD JR	21%	OAKWOOD CI	13%
15	PALMERSTON AVE PS	20%	NORTHVIEW HEIGHTS SS	12%
16	BROADLANDS PS	20%	SIR WILFRED LAURIER CI	12%
17	DUNDAS JR PS	19%	WESTVIEW CENTENNIAL SS	12%
18	CLIFFSIDE PS	19%	FRANK OKE SS	11%
19	TERRAVIEW WILLOWFIELD PS	18%	NEWTONBROOK SS	11%
20	IONVIEW PS	18%	SIR OLIVER MOWAT CI	11%
21	QUEEN ALEXANDRA SR PS	18%	DOWNSVIEW SS	11%
22	FISHERVILLE JHS	18%	CEDARBRAE CI	11%
23	GOSFORD PS	18%	WEXFORD CSA	10%
24	PARKFIELD JS	17%	WEST HUMBER CI	10%
25	LEDBURY PARK EMS	17%	WESTON CI	10%