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🕯️ Community energy-free hours

A regularly held community period (e.g. one evening a week, or a monthly "Earth Hour"-style event) where participants deliberately switch off power-consuming devices and organize an energy-free community activity instead.

When should you do this?

Can start any time, but especially atmospheric during the darker winter months

What will you need?

  • A candle or solar lamp for safe lighting
  • Board games or musical instruments for the energy-free activity
  • A communication channel to announce the event
  • A power meter to compare before and after (optional)

How to get started?

  1. Pick a regular slot, e.g. the first Saturday evening of every month.
  2. Announce it in the neighborhood or community, and get confirmation from participants.
  3. Before it starts, switch off every non-essential electrical device.
  4. Organize an energy-free shared activity: conversation, acoustic music, board games by candlelight, stargazing.
  5. If possible, measure the drop in consumption over those hours.
  6. Afterward, share the experience and photos on the community feed.
  7. Consider gradually increasing how often you do it.

Useful tips

  • For safety, use an LED or solar lamp instead of an open flame if children are taking part.
  • Never switch off safety- or health-critical equipment.

Ready? Start a community energy-free hours project, or join one already running near you.