Bangkok set a record for power saving during the global "Earth Hour" energy-saving campaign on Saturday, City Hall revealed on Sunday.
Bangkok joined 7,000 other cities/towns in 152 countries in a worldwide "lights out" campaign for the sixth consecutive year on Saturday when shopping malls, business outlets and government offices turned off their lights for 60 minutes between 8.30 and 9.30pm.
During the Earth Hour 2013 campaign, 1,699 megawatts of electricity, which would have created an estimated 1,073 tonnes of emissions of carbon dioxide and cost consumers a total of 6.65 million baht, were spared, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said.
The figure surpassed last year’s Earth Hour when the city saved up to 1,528 megawatts of electricity and slashed emissions of the major greenhouse gas by 815 tonnes, which saved 4.37 million baht.
Yesterday's Earth Hour was co-organised by the Foundation for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (Thailand) and the BMA and had dozens of government agencies and businesses taking part. The event centre was CentralWorld shopping centre and was presided over by the BMA’s deputy permanent secretary Jumpol Sumpaopol.