NBCUniversal Launches 'Lights Off. Screens On.' Campaign in Ramp Up to Earth Week

The seventh annual Green is Universal Earth Week celebration will include green-themed events, programming and public awareness.

Building on its commitment to sustainability across the entire company, NBCUniversal’s Green is Universal initiative will celebrate its seventh Earth Week with a slate of environmentally-themed events, programming and public awareness initiatives.

This Earth Week, Green is Universal will launch an ambitious new energy awareness campaign, "Lights Off. Screens On." The campaign will ask consumers to reduce their carbon footprint by turning off the lights when they turn on screens to watch their televisions, computers, tablets or smartphones.

If every household in the United States turned off two light bulbs for one hour every day, more than five billion kilowatt-hours of electricity would be saved nationwide each year, according to calculations based on government statistics.

"From the ongoing discussion on climate change to simple things people can do every day to live a greener lifestyle, the environment is an important issue for our consumers," stated Beth Colleton, NBCUniversal Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility. "Our ‘Lights Off. Screens On.’ campaign is just one of many actions NBCUniversal is leading to help educate consumers on simple ways to live more sustainably. NBCUniversal has been committed to using the reach of our many media and entertainment platforms to engage consumers in environmental awareness and education, and promote a healthy future."

NBCUniversal properties will actively promote the campaign by driving traffic to www.lightsoffscreenson.com during Earth Week. Starting on April 21, consumers will be able to take a pledge on the interactive site to turn off the lights, and in exchange receive the option to enter a contest to win an energy-efficient television and other environmentally-friendly prizes. Visitors to the site will also be able to access a variety of special NBCUniversal programming. The contest ends at 12 noon on April 28th.

NBCUniversal’s Earth Week celebration will also be in full swing at Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood.

On Earth Day, April 22, Universal Orlando Resort will give park guests the opportunity to attend the "Earth Week Recharge Experience" at Universal Studios Florida. The event will be complete with a solar recharging lounge, live music, and playground equipment that will "power" the event. Park guests will also have a chance to share pictures taken from NBCUniversal’s famous studio sets with the hashtag #LightsOffScreensOn.

The Green Is Universal Earth Week party will move to Universal Studios Hollywood on April 25th with a "Lights Off. Screens On. Music Fest." The concert will feature DJs and pop/rock bands along with Syfy’s McKenzie Westmore and mun2’s Liz and Jackie. The energetic crowd will help power the event by showing off their best moves on a kinetic dance floor. Additionally, a complimentary solar recharging station will allow guests to "power up" their personal devices so they can share the night with the campaign’s hashtag #LightsOffScreensOn.

Reaching over 30,000 park guests during last year’s Earth Week theme park events, PR News recently named NBCUniversal its winner for "green-focused corporate social responsibility events."

In addition, various NBCUniversal on-air and digital properties will incorporate environmental education and themes in content, including NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo, USA, Sprout, Syfy, E!, Bravo, and the Golf Channel.

A new slate of environmentally themed The More You Know public service announcements will also run during Earth Week and throughout the year across the networks. The new spots feature NBCUniversal talent providing their favorite conservation tips including: turning off the lights, recycling electronics, eating locally, and conserving energy and water. Participating talent include: Alison Sweeney, Ken Jeong, Kelli Giddish, Retta, Erika Christensen, Jim Cramer, Reza Farahan, Meghan Markle, McKenzie Westmore, Chris Hayes, and Fernando and Martha Vargas, among others.

Employees at dozens of sites in the U.S. and in countries around the world where NBCUniversal operates will also do their part for the planet on Earth Week by participating in environmentally-related community volunteer projects in connection with Comcast Cares Day, the company’s signature day of service.

NBCUniversal also integrates sustainability into the way it operates and constructs facilities.  The building of the news center in Los Angeles is the latest example.  The state of the art, adaptive reuse project features LED studio lighting, fiber optic wiring, advanced cooling systems and efficient power-management controls that help the facility conserve energy.  Ninety-six percent of the debris generated in demolition of the old facility was recycled as verified by Los Angeles County.

About Green Is Universal
Launched in 2007, Green is Universal is NBCUniversal’s ongoing green initiative dedicated to raising environmental awareness, effecting positive change to the environment, and making its own operations more sustainable. Through the year, NBCUniversal uses it numerous media and entertainment platforms to educate the public on the environment, with green-themed content airing across more than 50 NBCUniversal brands.