BLOOMINGTON - If you drive past State Farm headquarters about 8 p.m. Saturday, you might notice an unusual void of light.

The same will be true at the Normal Theater, the Children's Discovery Museum, Heartland Community College and several other locations, all part of the international Earth Hour movement designed to encourage energy efficiency.

But Twin City organizers hope it doesn't stop there. They want all residents to shut off or unplug any unnecessary electrical device for just one hour - between 8 and 9 p.m. Saturday.

"Our goal is to get the community to be aware of some fairly simple things they can do to make a difference," said Joe Grabill, one of the members of a new organization called Imagine Green B/N, which is coordinating the local effort. "It's completely voluntary, but hopefully it will make a visual difference."

A similar movement in Sydney, Australia, last year not only made a visual difference, but an impact on energy usage.

According to organizers WWF-Australia, 2.2 million households and 2,100 organizations participated in the first Earth Hour and reduced energy consumption in that city by 10.2 percent. WWF-Australia is part of the WWF International Network, an independent conservation organization.

Because the effort was so successful in Sydney, organizers decided to try it world-wide.

Many people in the Twin Cities, including Normal Mayor Chris Koos and Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton, have jumped on board.

Heartland Community College plans to turn off lights in its parking lots, walkways and at building entrances, said spokeswoman Janet Hill-Getz. "Because it's a Saturday night, there's not a lot of concern about (student) safety," she said, noting no classes are held at that time.

Hill-Getz said the effort is just one more way the college is trying to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Last year, Heartland opened the Workforce Development Center, the first state-funded building to meet "green" standards. In addition, the school uses "green" cleaners and the campus café uses recyclable or washable plates, Hill-Getz said.

State Farm Insurance Cos. will turn off parking lot lights and other exterior and interior lights at its buildings, said spokeswoman Mai Jazo-Harris. "It's in keeping with things we're doing to be green," said Jazo-Harris.

The company plans to step up security during that time, especially at the Corporate South building, she said.

Meanwhile, John Schoenbrun, supervisor of facility management for the town of Normal, plans to turn off all exterior and foyer lights at City Hall. Only the lobby and front desk will be lit at the police department and all exterior lights will be turned off at the fire stations.

The Children's Discovery Museum will go dark after the facility closes at 8 p.m., Schoenbrun said.

Bob Floyd, Bloomington's facility manager, said he will turn off the heating unit at City Hall for an hour Saturday night and the air-conditioning system will be shut down for 24 hours.

Illinois State University will turn off its message board on Main Street, near the Hancock Field parking lot, and is encouraging all faculty and staff to turn off computer monitors and lights before leaving work for the weekend. The university also will ask students to turn off non-essential lights and appliances during Earth Hour, said Enid Cardinal, ISU's sustainability coordinator.

"By working together we can save energy and lessen our environmental impact," said ISU President Al Bowman. "It can start with the flip of a switch."

Illinois Wesleyan University also will encourage students and faculty to turn off non-essential electrical devices, said Carl Teichman, the school's director of government and community relations.

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FYI

Businesses and communities throughout the world plan to take part in Earth Hour. Listed are a few of the more notable participants:

• Australia: Harbour Bridge and Opera House, both in Sydney; The Arts Centre, Rialto Towers, Melbourne Zoo and Aquarium, all in Melbourne; Story and Victoria bridges, Brisbane.

• Canada: All City of Toronto buildings; Ontario Science Center; Toronto Eaton Centre.

• Ireland: City buildings, Dublin.

• Israel: City buildings, Tel Aviv; Azrieali Tower; all hotels.

• U.S.: Coca-Cola headquarters, Atlanta; Sears Tower, John Hancock building, Soldier Field, Drake Hotel, City Hall, Merchandise Mart, Boeing headquarters, all in Chicago; Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge and town hall, all in San Francisco; city-government buildings, Phoenix.

SOURCE: www.earthhour.org

Cost of using common household items

Lighting: 22 cents/hour

Ceiling fan: 4 cents/hour

Cell phone charger: 2 cents/hour

Microwave: 1 cent/use

Big-screen TV: 5 cents/hour

Refrigerator: 43 cents/day

Hot tub: 36 cents/hour

Coffeemaker: 2 cents/brew

SOURCE: Ameren