SM Supermalls has once again led a meaningful local observance of the global Earth Hour. Through a symbolic lights-off practice held at all SM Malls has re-affirmed its strong commitment toward shared responsibility, environmental awareness, and community action across all of its most-loved malls.

From 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, all SM malls nationwide switched off non-essential lights as mallgoers, tenants, and communities came together to take part in activities that made sustainability more visible, more relatable, and more personal. Through SM Cares, Earth Hour became more than a scheduled observance in the evening—it became a reminder that small choices, when done together through empowered communities, can help build a better future.

SM Supermalls, together with its corporate social responsibility arm SM Cares, is joining the rest of the world in observing Earth Hour this coming March 25 as the company renews its commitment to environmental stewardship.

This year's Earth Hour is all about "creating the Biggest Hour for Earth," and those who want to participate in the global activity are encouraged to spend 60 minutes doing something positive for the planet, in addition to switching off their lights.

SM Supermalls has been supporting Earth Hour and the WWF since the initiative was first held in the Philippines in 2008. This year, customers, tenants and employees at SM malls nationwide are once again encouraged to “Give an Hour for Earth” as SM Supermalls joins the annual Global Lights Switch Off from 8:30 PM to 9:30PM on March 25.

This day also marks the start of the World Wildlife Fund’s Virtual Earth Hour Run, a self-paced run supported by SM Cares, to be held from March 25 to April 30, 2023. The run aligns with SM Supermalls’ bid to make “Earth Hour, Any Hour” as participants are encouraged to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle by running and win prizes along the way. Joiners may register here and tag SM Cares and WWF as they post their stopovers at SM malls with hashtag #BiggestHourForEarth and #EarthHourVirtualRun.

Aside from these, SM Supermalls has been pushing to minimize its carbon footprint in support of the global green movement through various programs ranging from responsible energy consumption to investing in renewable energy.

For instance, more than 50 percent of the energy consumed by SM malls all over the country now come from renewable sources. In terms of solar energy usage, SM now has 12 malls equipped with energized solar panels, with SM Mall of Asia as the latest mall to receive a solar panel installation, which has a capacity of 2.003 MWp.

SM has also been recognized for exceeding compliance with RA7920 or the New Electrical Engineering Law, which regulates the practice, licensing, and registration of electrical engineers and electricians. This is proof that SM is operated and maintained only by highly qualified engineers.

SM Cares' sustainability initiatives include the Trash-To-Cash Market and the Plastic Waste Collection program, which encourage responsible solid waste disposal among Filipinos; the annual Green Film Festival which promotes environmental awareness among students and the youth; and the International Coastal Cleanup which encourages stakeholders to do their part in keeping our seas and oceans clean.

SM Cares is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Supermalls, the country’s biggest chain of malls built by one of Southeast Asia’s leading real estate developer, SM Prime Holdings. It is responsible for initiatives that promote sustainability and the development of the community, including programs on Women and Breastfeeding Mothers, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, and Children and Youth, as well as the Bike-Friendly SM initiative, in addition to its Programs on Environment.

To learn more, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

 


Though the day was filled with lots of activities, still, we manage to continue the day until night time just to participate in the call of Earth Hour. It is our first time to participate in the mall with a ceremony and of course together with the other people who believes in the cause.

Together with my family we went to SM City Fairview where we received an invite regarding their program ceremony for the call of the WWF for the Earth Hour. Not really sure of how it will turn out and what will be the activity but we did go on and expect something.


Since we got early inside the mall we decided to have a little stroll around the SM City Fairview and had some few funs on the arcades, have our eldest son, Maki, checked by a dentist and lastly checked out some of the areas that we haven't been too.


Very much busy looking around we've lost track of the time and we've thought they would start a bit later. When we got to the area, their program had already begun and the place was just quite in tune for the off light program. Quite a number of people were already there listening to speeches of different people before the start of the count down in turning off the electricity. My son, Maki, were interviewed as well by the host and asked what he can do to save the environment. Of course mommy is always there for their kids and they also get to learn things from us and cleaning is one of them in which he boasted to the host in a very little kiddie voice.



As they made the counted few key persons lined up in front of the 60+ symbol to showcase the call of turning the electricity off one hour or more. This call is to help reduce the carbon emission and to at least save some of the resources that are burned in order to produce electricity.



So what is this all about the Earth Hour? Here are some of the information about the Earth Hour.

1. Earth Hour started as an idea and it was initiated by one city in Sydney, Australia back in 2007 of March 31. 2.2 million people joined the one hour switched off and the result is that the one hour switched off is equivalent to removing 48,613 cars off in the roads of Sydney for one hour. 
2.  Earth Hour started to be global movement in the year 2008, Philippines was the first South East Asian nation to join and pledge full support for Earth Hour. Total power saved was amount to 80MWh, an equivalent of shutting down a coal fired power plant for one hour. 
3. In 2009, Philippines became the top Earth Hour country with 647 town and cities that joined. 10 million Filipinos joined the one hour switched off and it save at least 611 megawatt of electricity, equivalent to a temporary shutdown of a dozen coal fired power plants. 
4. In 2010, Philippines got the title once more for having the top Earth Hour country, 1076 towns and cities participated. 
5. In 2011, 1661 cities and municipalities joined the Earth Hour and once more, the Philippines got the title for being the top Earth Hour country, and now called as the official Earth Hour Hero Country. 
6. Earth Hour grown to a 5251 strong global movement,reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries.