Who’s taking part…
- Optima
- Branston
- Lincoln Cathedral
- Lincoln Castle
- The Collection and Usher Gallery
- Glue
- The University of Lincoln
- Engine Shed
- Lava PR
- POP Design Agency Ltd
- McKinnells Solicitors
- Weblincs
- Ronan Keating
- Sir Alex Ferguson
- C B Marketing
- jch investment management limited
- Electric Egg
- AYS Systems
- Colin Firth
- Carwen the Leek
- Really Welsh Trading Company
- Bambini Photography
- Venture Signs & Graphics Ltd
Are you taking part? If you are why not email us and let us know at info@optimadesign.co.uk and we'll add you to the list. And, don't forget to sign up on the WWF Earth Hour Website.
Latest from Earth Hour Lincoln on Twitter…
28 March
Two hours to go until earth hour! Hope you are doing something to keep warm during the switch off :-) #earthhour 
27 March
For details about Earth Hour Lincoln including Ghost Walk and candlelit Jazz at the drillhall go to http://www.optimadesign.co.uk/earthhour
More about Earth Hour…
Register as a participating business on the WWF website
Official Earth Hour Facebook Group
We invite everyone in Lincoln city to join this global event and switch off their lights at 8.30pm Saturday 28 March in support of WWF's Earth Hour.
Final figures
10 April 2009
Some of the final figures that came in - 914,545 facebook members, 45 Facebook Lincoln members, (think we need to work on this one!), 13,888 twitter followers, 43 twitter followers in Lincoln (including BBC radio Lincolnshire and the WWF!) and a whole load of people sat in the dark for an hour... Well done Lincoln!
Thanks everyone
03 April 2009
Although the momentum petered out somewhat towards the end of our Earth-hour Lincoln awareness push, we have managed to help bring Earth Hour 2009 to the attention of even more people in Lincoln than ever before. We had reports of various activities from BBQing and cooking the dark (with burns to prove it), to Ghost walk attendees, party goers and star gazers. Thank you to all the companies and individuals who signed up, right up to the last minute in fact. With all the other politics taking place around the Earth Hour weekend, when the economy seems to be overshadowing everything at the moment, thank you to everyone who stayed focussed and did their bit towards reducing climate change. I'm off now to post a cheque to WWF for the T Shirts we bought and plan how we can do this bigger, better and maybe help Lincoln be a little darker and greener next year. Thanks again.
Nearly there…
27 March 2009
We are receiving information that WWF are nearly there on the UK target for sign-ups... but not quite...
At 8.30 tomorrow evening, we’re hoping that a billion people will switch off their lights and show world leaders that we want them to take action to tackle climate change. With 84 countries, 2,848 cities and 21,014 businesses signed up, the momentum is really growing…
So before you do anything else, please click here and give the WWF the email address of anyone who you think might want to be part of the biggest mass participation event in history. Every name counts - so please help us out.
Hold on… Earth Hour is just over 48hrs away
26 March 2009
At Optima we are well known for (amongst other things) our hold music. We have a PRS licence that enable us to play anything to our customers as they are left on hold. Past favourites are Adam and the Ants and the Jungle book music. So when we were wondering what to play on our hold music this week for Earth Hour we had a few suggestions. So why not fill your ipod (other mp3 players are available but not as sexy) with this lot for the hour on Saturday between 8.30 and 9.30!
Duran Duran – Planet Earth
REM – Nightswimming
Van Morrison – Moondance
Toploader – Dancing in the moonlight
David Bowie - Starman
Smiths – There is a light that never goes out
RHCP – Throw away your Television
Rolling Stones – Let’s spend the night together or Midnight Rambler
Lionel Richie – All night long
White Stripes - White Moon
Last Shadow puppets – The time has come again
Arctic Monkeys – Leave before the lights come on
Or another favourite, Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield - Dave Angels Theme tune coincidently!
Ronan and Optima are not alone…
25 March 2009
As Earth Hour 2009 draws ever closer loads of celebs are signing up. Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester Utd, Fashion Designer Vivienne Westwood, Singer Will Young, Back Street Boys, Amir Khan, Motown Legend Lionel Ritchie, Actor Colin Firth, Former Spice Girl Mel C, Actor Cate Blanchett, Paul O’Grady, TV Presenter, Radio DJ Neil Fox, TV Presenter Sarah Beeney, Radio One DJ Scott Mills, Fashion designer Pearl Lowe, Singer KT Tunstall, Kevin McCloud, Designer, Actor Alistair McGowan, Welsh rugby captain Ryan Jones, Liz Fuller, Former Miss Great Britain and TV Presenter, London Mayor, Boris Johnson, Ken Livingstone, Former London Mayor, Strictly Come Dancing’s Camilla Dallerup, Model Keeley Hazell, Elena Dementyeva (who? (Olympic Gold Medalist Tennis Player) Oh...)
So if the Back Street Boys can do it, so can you. Get on board and make a difference.Thanks.
Cheers Ronan…
25 March 2009
“Climate change is a really big deal that all of us should be concerned about, because there’s no question that run-away climate change will endanger the lives of people, as well as animals.
Earth Hour gives us all a chance to show world leaders just how worried we are and how much we want them to do the right thing. We’re aiming to get a billion people around the world to switch off their lights at the same time to show world governments that we want strong action on climate change.
If we’re successful, this will be the biggest ever action on climate change."
Ronan Keating off of Boyzone
Thousands signs up and switch off for WWFs Earth Hour
24 March 2009
Thousands of people are now signed up and supporting WWF’s Earth Hour, an epic global event taking place on Saturday 28th March 2009, between 8.30-9.30pm. The initiative, which aims to be the largest mass global action on climate change ever, is asking individuals, businesses, community groups, schools, towns and cities around the world to switch off their lights for one hour to send a powerful signal to global leaders, that they must take urgent action to tackle climate change.
2,000 towns and cities from more than 80 countries, including London, Cardiff, Belfast, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and of course Lincoln, have already signed up to support WWF’s Earth Hour and numbers are growing daily. In the UK, 100 towns and cities and 184 Landmarks, including Nelson’s Column and the Wembley Arch in London, to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the entire quayside in Newcastle, Stormont in Belfast and the Forth Bridge in Edinburgh and Lincoln's mighty Cathedral.
University backs the campaign… Brilliant!
23 March 2009
The University of Lincoln has become the latest high profile organisation to commit to Lincoln’s Earth Hour.
Staff and students are being encouraged to turn off their non-essential electrical appliances between 8.30pm and 9.30pm this coming Saturday (28 March) following the lead set by Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle amongst others.
Dan Clayton, Environmental Sustainability Manager at the University of Lincoln, says, “When we were told about the campaign to get as many local businesses and people as possible turning off their lights and non-essential appliances for the hour we were keen to get involved. We will be encouraging our staff and students to show their concerns over climate change by simply flicking a switch.”
Stuart spreads the word…
20 March 2009
Many thanks to Stuart Davis, our Account Handler, who stepped up to the mark and delivered a fine live interview on friday afternoon on BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
Stuart was quizzed about Earth Hour and Lincoln Earth Hour happenings by William Wright on our local BBC Radio Station at 4pm. Following a presentation on Earth Hour in London two days before Stuart was primed and ready to go and delivered a fine overview of what we have achieved and we are aiming to achieve with Lincoln Earth Hour.
Well done Stu..!
You can listen again by clicking here.
Are you afraid of the dark during Earth Hour?
20 March 2009
People wanting to really get into the spirit of Earth Hour on Saturday 28th March can sign up for a special ghost walk round historic Lincoln.
Rather than opting for a candle-lit dinner or early night, Spooky Green of the original Lincoln Ghost Walk will be staging a very special search for ghosts and ghouls.
Starting as soon as Earth Hour begins – 8.30pm – the walk will take people on a tour of the City, including some of Lincoln’s most haunted areas, which will be even more eerie given the unique lack of lighting.
BIG Boost for Lincoln Earth Hour
19 March 2009
Organisers of Lincoln’s Earth hour got a BIG boost today as the city’s business improvement group lent its support to the initiative that is encouraging Lincoln to turn off its non-essential electrical items between 8.30 and 9.30pm on Saturday 28 March.
Lincoln Business Improvement Group (Lincoln BIG) today wrote to all its 600 levy payers asking them to join in the global campaign, which intends to raise awareness of the need to reduce unnecessary energy use.
“When we heard about Earth Hour and Optima’s campaign to turn Lincoln’s lights off we were only too pleased to get involved,” says Matt Corrigan, Lincoln BIG Chief Executive. “It’s going to be a great spectacle, visually stunning and I can’t wait to see all of the city’s non-essential lighting being turned off. It will be quite a spectacle and will really help the environment. I hope our levy papers get behind the campaign.”
What can I do in the dark on the 28th of March?
18 March 2009
...Listen to some great Jazz! John Holland and the New Jazz 5 are having an evening of Jazz on the 28th of March and will be supporting Earth hour. So expect to hear some joyful and exuberant playing with thundering finales being played to candlelight or maybe even completely in the dark... To find out more and book tickets visit www.lincolndrillhall.com
...if you aren’t sure why we are doing this
17 March 2009
watch this…
...and back to Earth Hour
16 March 2009
Following a Fantastic Friday and weekend of Comic Relief fund raising (well done everyone), we can now refocus again on Earth hour which is just 12 days away. We think we just need to reconfirm to everyone why we are doing this...
On Saturday 28 March 2009 at 8.30pm, people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for an hour – WWF’s Earth Hour. WWF want a billion people around the world to sign up and join in. Sign up to show that you care about people, wildlife and the planet, and that you want the world’s leaders to take action to tackle climate change.
Watch the WWF’s short film to find out more about WWF’s Earth Hour at http://www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour
Coca Cola Great Britain (CCGB) has announced that its world-famous Coca Cola sign at Piccadilly Circus is to be switched off. Find out more about this and what's happening around the world on the WWF websites... AND PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO REGISTER AND BE PART OF IT! We are getting a lot of people saying that they will sign up, but they must register with the WWF. Please Click here to register as business. Thanks
Move over Earth Hour…
13 March 2009
Optima support a number of initiatives annually and one special bi-annual event, Comic Relief. So today we are all donning our official T shirts, selling red noses, cakes and generally being funny for money to raise cash for a very good cause. Check out our HUGE Red nose if you drive past and buy a red nose from our reception. Have a great day, good luck to everyone else who is fund raising and back to Earth Hour next week.
Sign-up now…
12 March 2009
To register as an Earth Hour supporter all you have to do is follow this link and fill in the online form. It'll just take a jiffy and you can add your name to the millions of people around the World who will switch their lights off during WWF’s Earth Hour. This will show the world’s leaders that we all care about the planet and want them to act now to tackle climate change. Go on, it only takes a minute... click here to sign up now
Echo helps launch Earth Hour Lincoln
11 March 2009
Optima Graphic Design are getting behind Earth Hour and trying to promote 'Earth Hour Lincoln'. We will be updating you with local news about Earth Hour as well as details about Earth Hour events. Today the Lincolnshire Echo ran its first article which confirms that the Cathedral will be switching off its lights for Earth Hour, which is absolutely brilliant and as a key visual icon for the City, creates a real focus on the night.