TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Presidential Office Building will dim its lights for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday in support of Earth Hour.

The international environmental campaign, held annually on the third Saturday of March, sees participation from more than 18,000 sites across at least 190 countries. According to Taiwan Power Company, last year’s Earth Hour in Taiwan saved 289,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 143 tons—a record for the event.

Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an (潘孟安) urged the public via Facebook to turn off all unnecessary lights during Earth Hour, CNA reported. He said the action would promote sustainable development and help advance the goal of a zero-emission society.

Separately, the Presidential Office recently announced a series of cost-cutting measures in response to budget cuts imposed by the opposition in the Legislative Yuan. These include turning off external lighting on the building after midnight, switching off air conditioners one hour earlier during summer, limiting temperatures to no lower than 28 degrees Celsius, and drastically reducing subscriptions to newspapers and magazines.

In addition to the Presidential Office, at least 540 businesses and organizations will participate in Earth Hour by dimming their lights on Saturday evening. The initiative also includes more than 10,000 7-Eleven convenience stores in Taiwan and the Philippines, reflecting international cooperation on environmental awareness.