The Philippines saved 62.69 megawatts of power following its participation in the annual Earth Hour initiative on March 25, according to the Department of Energy.

In a statement on Monday, March 27, the DOE said the largest savings of 33.29 MW came from Luzon, followed by 20.5 MW from Mindanao and 8.9 MW from Visayas during the one-hour (8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) switch off of non-essential lights.

“Imagine when individuals, businesses, the government, and communities unite not only during Earth Hour but in making energy conservation their everyday way of life—the overall impact would be even bigger,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

Lotilla urged the public to consistently practice energy conservation measures at home, in offices, in communities, and in businesses, such as switching off non-essential lights and choosing more energy-efficient appliances, equipment, and machines.

“These are simple yet valuable actions that we can do easily, not only for our planet but more especially during periods of high demand such as this summer season,” he said.

The Earth Hour initiative, which began in Sydney in 2007, aims to raise awareness about the climate crisis.