Restaurants encouraged to turn off the lights
Restaurants are being encouraged to turn off the lights for a night next month to show their support for Earth Hour 2017.
This year will be the tenth anniversary of Earth Hour, which will see landmarks such as Big Ben, the London Eye, and the Palace of Holyrood join the switch off.
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) is encouraging UK restaurants to follow suit and switch off lights at 8:30pm on 25 March and let diners eat by candlelight.
Organised by WWF, Earth Hour was introduced to highlight the need for action on climate change. The SRA is backing the initiative again as part of its month-long campaign to encourage the hospitality industry to reduce energy use.
SRA chief executive Andrew Stephen said: "As a whole, the hospitality and foodservice sector uses energy like there is no tomorrow. Even those with the best intentions often don't know how to change their wasteful behaviour. By hosting a month-long conversation the SRA aims to give the best in the business the chance to shine a light on their gold standard practice, inspiring those who are still in the dark to make positive change.
"Earth Hour will then provide restaurants with the perfect opportunity to extend the conversation to their customers, and demonstrate that a Good restaurant doesn't waste natural resources."
Red Carnation hotels will be taking part in the awareness campaign for a fifth time, serving guests candlelit dinners having left invitations on their pillows.
Meanwhile, diners at the Gladwin Brothers' three London restaurants, The Shed, Rabbit and Nutbourne will be asked to guess the ingredients of their candlelight dinner.
According to energy company E.ON, restaurants in the UK are responsible for higher carbon emissions than the whole of Costa Rica. The SRA said that a 20% cut in energy costs can represent the same bottom line benefit as a 5% increase in sales.
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