City skyline dark one hour on Saturday

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The city of Austin is taking part in a global event designed to make a statement about climate change on Saturday night.

Earth Hour will be observed in 128 countries, from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa and the Americas.

Austin citizens are also being asked to observe the event by turning off home lights and power down computers from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Austin's skyline will go dark when lights -- except for security lights -- are shut off in the following buildings for one hour:

• Austin City Hall (301 W. 2nd St.)
• One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Road)
• Town Lake Center
• Municipal Court (700 East 7th St.)
• Municipal Building
• Faulk Library (800 Guadalupe St.)
• Waller Creek Plaza
• San Jacinto Center (98 San Jacinto Blvd.)
• One American Center (600 Congress Ave.)
• Frost Bank Tower (401 Congress Ave.)
• 111 Congress Building
• 300 W. 6th Street Building
• The Driskill Hotel (604 Brazos St.)
• 816 Congress Ave.
• 301 Congress Ave.
• 100 Congress Ave.
• Austin Centre Building (701 Brazos St.)
• Hilton Austin (500 East 4th St.)
• Sheraton Austin Hotel (701 East 11th St.)
• 823 Congress Ave.
• The Texas Capitol (Tree Lighting, Ground-Up Lighting, and Non-Essential Interior Lighting)
• Tower at The University of Texas at Austin
• Doubletree Suites by Hilton (303 W. 15th Street) (Candlelit Lounge and Restaurant)
• All University of Texas Athletic Facilities (Except Disch-Falk Field)

There will be a candlelight vigil at the same time on the Pfluger pedestrian bridge.

Organizations that are participating in Earth Hour are:

• City of Austin
• Austin Energy
• Downtown Austin Alliance
• Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association
• EnviroMedia Social Marketing
• State Preservation Board
• Thomas Properties
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Austin Police Department
• Austin Water
• Austin-Travis County EMS
• Austin Fire Department
• City of Austin Public Works Department
• Austin Parks and Recreation

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, with 2.2 homes and businesses participating. Earth Hour’s non-partisan approach has became a global phenomenon.