TALKING TECH

On Earth Hour – don’t turn off – plug in. Here’s why.

Brett Molina
USA TODAY
Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House before and after Earth Hour in this combo of pictures.

Saturday night, at 8:30 p.m. local time, you might notice neighbors switching off their lights. The reason? Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is described as "60 minutes to protect the planet," a show of solidarity with Earth by choosing to unplug. Landmarks like the Sydney Opera House in Australia, Big Ben, the Empire State Building, the Las Vegas Strip and the Eiffel Tower will make a statement when they go dark for an hour.

If you're not shut off, you'll probably see it light up social media: There are other ways to mark it that include adding a frame to your Facebook profile picture or "donating" Facebook posts to share information on climate action.

Worried about climate change? Here are some things you can do in one hour or less.

Call your local lawmakers. You can get in touch with elected officials from U.S. senators and representatives all the way down to the representatives of your local county. Find out what steps they have taken or plan to take to protect the environment.

Donate to environmental groups. There are several groups available accepting donations. EarthHour.org does as well, noting donations go toward helping to "engage businesses, governments, communities and individuals to combat climate change."

Research ways to live more eco-friendly. It could something small like switching to a smart thermostat, or maybe you've considered going bigger like adding solar panels to the roof of your house. It could help the environment, and maybe save you money in the long term.

Earth Hour doesn't have to be just about the 60 minutes you spend with your lights and other electronics turned off. It could be the start of something bigger.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.