Hammersmith BID Signs Up to Dark January Pledge

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Lights in offices turned off to reduce energy use

Michael Grant of Metrikus, "Behind every arresting Instagram image of a skyline at night comes an appalling waste of energy and money"

January 27, 2023

Hammersmith BID has signed up to Dark January pledge as part of an initiative to to encourage commercial buildings to use less energy. The campaign is using the hashtag #TurnYourBloodyLightsOff on social media.

The not-for-profit, business led-company set up with the aim of improving Hammersmith town centre has joined forces with software platform Metrikus to help fulfil its aims. The pledge has been set up to encourage individuals, landlords, and businesses around the world to reduce energy usage in their offices, starting with the simple act of making sure lights are off when not in use. Hammersmith BID says it is the first London BID to commit to #TurnYourBloodyLightsOff.

Hammersmith BID says Dark January fits closely with its ambitions to focus on sustainability of the town centre, with a commitment to improving air quality and additional green spaces amongst its environmental ambitions.

For individuals working in Hammersmith, Metrikus has outlined a simple guideline to make a difference. Firstly, always making sure to turn lights off in unoccupied areas; secondly, talking to the facilities or building manager about how the status quo can be changed in regards to existing energy policy; and finally, encouraging colleagues and senior management to sign up and get involved.

The campaign is being launched following startling statistics around wasted energy in commercial buildings. According to the US Department of Energy, 30 percent of energy consumed in commercial buildings is wasted energy, whilst energy used to power buildings is responsible for 28 percent of global carbon emissions (World Green Building Council). With the world adding 2 trillion square feet of buildings by 2060 – the equivalent of putting up another New York City every month for the next 40 years (Gates Notes) - the matter is of great urgency.

Livia Caruso, Assistant BID Director at Hammersmith BID said, “When Metrikus came to us with the vision for Dark January we were interested immediately. We are all well aware of the energy being wasted across our cities worldwide and one of our key ambitions for Hammersmith is to improve the sustainability of the town centre and create a better environment for residents and those who work in Hammersmith alike.

“We would strongly encourage other town centres across London to sign up to #TurnYourBloodyLightsOff; the climate emergency needs the contribution of all, and the Hammersmith BID community is proud to be amongst the first to commit to play our part.”

Michael Grant, COO at Metrikus added, “There’s no doubt that the energy lighting up our commercial buildings at night comes at too great a price. Behind every arresting Instagram image of a skyline at night comes an appalling waste of energy and money that could be invested in providing a sustainable future.

“We are living in a time of climate change, and the blazing hot days of summer are still fresh in our memory. Added to the cost of living crisis, and cost of doing business crisis, we have created the Dark January pledge to create awareness around just how much damage redundant energy usage is doing to the environment when a few short, cheap and easy steps could be taken to make an enormous difference.”

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