What it is
Earth Hour is an annual global campaign run by WWF, in which people, businesses and landmarks switch off non-essential lights for one hour in the evening to draw attention to climate and nature. It is usually held on a Saturday in late March, so the exact date is best checked each year on the official site.
It started as a local initiative and grew into a worldwide moment. For businesses it is a symbolic, calm event that works best when it is accompanied by real, small actions.
Symbols: A switched-off light, a candle, a dark skyline, a starry sky, a planet
Emoji: 🌍 🕯️ 💡 🌙 ✨ 🌿
Colours: Deep blue, black, warm candle orange
Hashtags: #EarthHour #SwitchOff #WWF #ForNature #LightsOut
What to aim for
- Trust: show real, small energy-saving steps you take, not slogans
- Engagement: invite followers to share their candlelit hour
- Footfall: an atmospheric candlelit evening for cafés and venues
Post ideas by format
Post
- An announcement that your venue will switch off non-essential lights for the hour, with the time and what you will serve
- “Three simple ways we save energy at work”, only if they are real and you do them
Carousel
- “An hour without lights”: ideas for the evening at home, one per slide (board games, a walk, a candlelit dinner)
- “Small energy-saving habits”: one per slide, general and practical
Reel / short video
- Hook: “We switched off the lights for an hour.” A before and after of the venue, from bright to candlelit
- A short clip of preparing candles and table settings for the evening
Stories
- A countdown sticker to the hour, with a reminder to switch off
- A question sticker: “What would you do with an hour without lights?”
Ready-made post examples
Layouts we wrote as examples. Replace the details with your own business before you publish.
On Earth Hour we are switching off our main lights and serving the evening by candlelight. Come in for warm tea, simple snacks and conversation without screens. We will keep only the lights we need for safety. Tell us in the comments what you would do with an hour without electricity, and share a photo of your own candlelit evening.
Join us for Earth Hour: for one hour in the evening we will switch off non-essential lights and equipment in our space. We are also reviewing how we use energy through the year, and will share small steps we take. If you have simple ideas for saving energy at small businesses like ours, please write them in the comments. We read everything.
For Earth Hour our team has switched off non-essential lights in the office for an hour, and we want to be honest: it is a symbol, not a solution. What matters is the daily habits. This year we are working on packaging with fewer materials and better planning of deliveries. What small step has your company actually taken? We would love to learn from you.
Meme and trend formats that fit
- Lights out, phones on. A gentle joke that people switch off the lights and then look at their phones. Use it to invite followers to put the phone down for the hour too.
- Expectation vs reality. Two panels: the romantic candlelit evening and the search for matches or a charged torch. Keep it friendly and do not mock environmental concerns.
What to avoid
- Do not claim environmental benefits you cannot prove; avoid greenwashing and say what you actually do
- Do not switch off lights that matter for safety, such as exits, cooking equipment or alarms
- Do not shame people who cannot take part, such as those who work evening shifts
When to post
- Check the official date and hour with WWF at least a few weeks ahead; it can change each year
- Announce a week before and post a reminder a few hours earlier; in 2027 it is expected on a Saturday in late March
- The day after, share photos from the hour and the real steps you plan to continue
What to check afterwards
- Bookings or visits during the candlelit hour
- Photos and tags from followers who took part
- Replies to the question about energy-saving ideas
Add one line about your business: the free generator gives three captions with hashtags for the network you choose. No sign-up.
Around the same days
- International Day of Happiness
- March Equinox
- Day of Trade, Consumer Services and Utilities Workers (Russia)
- Nauryz
- World Down Syndrome Day
- World Poetry Day
- World Water Day
- Culture Workers’ Day (Russia)
- International Waffle Day
- Good Friday
- World Theatre Day
- Easter (Western)
- Easter Monday
- April Fools’ Day
- International Children’s Book Day
- World Autism Awareness Day