Lights out

This weekend, it will be "lights out" at Pittsburgh-based H. J. Heinz Co. offices across the world as Heinz and its employees observe Earth Hour 2008, a bright idea to help combat climate change and promote energy conservation. Heinz is encouraging its 33,000 employees worldwide to turn off office lights and company computers for the weekend in observance of Earth Hour 2008, a global World Wildlife Fund (WWF) event on Saturday, March 29 that will focus on the problems of climate change and global warming. As an added expression of support, the neon-lighted Heinz ketchup sign that adorns the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh will go dark for an hour starting at 8 p.m. Saturday. "Heinz is proudly participating in Earth Hour 2008," says Heinz Chairman, President and CEO William R. Johnson. "Heinz is deeply committed to reducing its environmental footprint and protecting natural resources for future generations." Earth Hour 2008 is asking people, households and businesses around the world to switch off their lights for 60 minutes, starting at 8 p.m. this Saturday, to deliver a powerful message about climate change and the need for action. The WWF is hoping that millions of people in cities and communities around the world will participate in Earth Hour, which started as a single event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. This year, Earth Hour is going global to include major cities around the world and more than 11,700 businesses have signed up to participate, according to the event's Web site. Great for the environment, it’s also a perfect opportunity for a romantic, candlelit dinner at home.