Press Release
For Immediate Release March 28, 2009

Vancouver Landmarks Turn off the Lights for Earth Hour and Keep Track of their Savings

Vancouver, BC - March 28, 2009 - While the lights turned off across Vancouver’s skyline to mark WWF’s Earth Hour between 8:30pm and 9:30pm this evening, Pulse Energy software developers — some of Vancouver’s brightest lights in software engineering — were tuned in to show web-site viewers real time energy drops at major landmarks in the city. At JunoFest in downtown Vancouver, other members of the Pulse Energy team shared the Earth Hour countdown stage with the WWF team, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Roberston, BC Premier Gordon Campbell, and Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice.

Thousands of Pulse Energy website visitors witnessed the 1454 kWh that were collectively saved at Pulse Energy’s partner sites including Vancouver City Hall, Harbour Centre, the University of British Columbia, and the village of Hartley Bay. The one hour of energy saved translates into enough energy to send the SkyTrain subway from Vancouver to Banff.

The Pulse Energy team used their energy management software to collect, analyze, and communicate the numbers. “We know that specific information offered in a timely fashion allows energy users to adjust their habits and achieve energy saving goals. Earth Hour is a fantastic symbol that indicates consumers' and corporations’ desire to make change and our hope is that the Earth Hour spirit is carried into everyday living at home or at work,” said David Helliwell, Pulse Energy co-founder. "If every Canadian were to have an Earth Hour every day, and they saved the same 1.5% of their energy that our five partners have saved, on average, today, that would be enough energy to send the SkyTrain from the Earth to the Sun and back 12 times."

Each partner took a different approach to reducing their energy usage. UBC aimed for a small reduction over the whole weekend, doubling last year's impact with a 3% energy reduction for the day on Saturday. Harbour Centre turned off all of its lights, and the revolving restaurant on its roof was lit by candles, even in the kitchen. City Hall also turned off all non-essential loads, and Hartley Bay turned off everything — a 100% drop in electricity usage by shutting down the diesel powerhouse.

Summary of results:

For full results from Earth Hour, as well as some ways to reduce the energy used by your building by up to 25% for the whole year, please visit earthhour.pulseenergy.com.

24 hour media contact: David Helliwell (604) 761-3434

About Pulse Energy

The Pulse Energy team is passionate about energy efficiency. Team members ride their bikes to the office overlooking the seawall in West Vancouver, they spend their lives building energy management software for buildings, and they are dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours to making Earth Hour a huge success. Pulse Energy's energy management software helps buildings to reduce energy use by 5-25% through the collection, analysis, and presentation of energy information. Please contact earthhour@pulseenergy.com for more information.

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