For Tel Aviv, this will be the second time it is participating in this annual international effort to raise environmental awareness and fight global warming. It will be the first time for the other cities. Beginning at 8:20 PM, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, Dimona and Kfar Saba will turn off their lights in turn for an hour each.
Residents are asked to turn off lights in homes, offices and wherever else they can for the designated hour. Over 10,500 people and 325 businesses have stated their intention to participate, registering at the program’s website. http://www.e-h.org.il/
Street lamps and traffic lights will remain lighted. Turning off electric appliances other than lights is optional.
The Israel Electric Company will, for the first time the history of electricity, present electricity consumption data in real time. The presentation will originate in the Electric Company’s new control room in Tel Aviv.
In Jerusalem, the lights illuminating the Old City walls will be turned off in a public ceremony at 8:10 PM in the presence of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and President Shimon Peres. Booths showing examples of recycling of products are on display in the Mamilla Compound beginning Thursday afternoon.
In Be’er Sheva, the lights will be turned off at 8:30, beginning with an official ceremony chaired by Mayor Rubik Danilovitz. At that hour, the plugs will be ceremoniously pulled on lights in the municipality building, the Teachers Center, the Negev Brigade Monument, the Youth Center, Yad Lebanim, and elsewhere.