SAN JOSE, California — Tonight, in recognition of World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Earth Hour, the world’s largest annual public action for the environment, the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion will observe Earth Hour.

From 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., as part of the NHL’s league wide energy savings initiative, HP Pavilion will turn off non-essential lighting on the facility’s roof façade, in the Comerica Bank Club level and on HP Pavilion’s main concourse.

It is estimated that through these energy saving measures, HP Pavilion will reduce its usage by an estimated nearly 80,000 watts (79,986) during this one-hour period.

All 30 NHL arenas will join hundreds of millions of homes and businesses worldwide tonight by switching-off non-essential lighting for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time.

While the battles on the ice intensify, the building’s energy consumption will decline. All facilities have pledged to scale-back the energy used in their operations during the globally recognized hour. Twenty of the League’s thirty Clubs will be in-action that evening.

NHL Green is further supporting this initiative by reducing energy usage at NHL headquarters in New York City at that time.

The goal of Earth Hour is to show the world that even taking the seemingly smallest measures to conserve energy is a big step in the right direction for communities, businesses and governments across the globe.

"For the NHL, the success of this event is about more than turning the lights off for one hour. It is about changing the way our sport approaches energy consumption,” said Bernadette Mansur, SVP of NHL Green. "Our facilities are challenging themselves to operate more efficiently, and we are encouraging our employees to observe Earth Hour at home and reduce their energy consumption throughout the day."

In 2010, the National Hockey League formalized a commitment to protecting the environment by launching NHL Green, a program which has developed measurement tools and sustainability initiatives to help reduce the energy, water and waste associated with facility operations and the game. In 2011, the League was presented with Beyond Sports’ 2011 Sport for Environment award.

NHL Green encourages all fans to participate in Earth Hour on Saturday, March 31st and commit to making small adjustments that reduce their impact on the natural environment.
"When it comes to winning the fight against climate change, it’s clear that we all need to work together,” says WWF-Canada Freshwater Ambassador Scott Niedermayer, who captured four Stanley Cups in 18 NHL seasons. “By joining Team Earth Hour, we can work together for a sustainable future."

About Earth Hour: Started in Australia in 2007, by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour has grown to become the world’s largest global climate change action. Earth Hour supporters turn off non-essential lighting for one hour to send a symbolic message - that now is the time to take action on climate change. More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011, including global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Coliseum and Empire State Building.