Maritimers joined millions of other Canadians who turned off their power during Earth Hour Saturday evening.

In Nova Scotia it created an 18-megawatt reduction in energy use, easily surpassing the 15-megawatt reduction observed in the province last year.

Stacey Pineau, a spokeswoman for Nova Scotia Power, said the hour-long power savings was equivalent to turning off 1.4 million 13-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs. The year-over-year difference in energy savings is equivalent to roughly 300,000 CFL bulbs, according to Pineau.

"We are always very supportive of energy efficiency and conservation efforts. It's something we encourage year round with our customers and our employees," Pineau said. "When it comes to saving the energy and the environment we all have a role to play."

Both NB Power and Maritime Electric in Prince Edward Island are still calculating what effect Earth Hour had on their grids.

Last year, NB Power reported an energy consumption drop of 20 megawatts during Earth Hour, which is equal to roughly 400,000 conventional incandescent lightbulbs being turned off.

Earth Hour started in 2007

Earth Hour was started by the World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. More than two million people and businesses took part in that first year.

About one billion people in 121 countries had been expected to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday.

Events were planned from east to west in Canada. Halifax harbour bridges went dark, as did most of the external lights on Toronto's CN Tower.

The exterior lights at Air Canada Centre were kept off in honour of Earth Hour, while inside, the Maple Leafs beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in overtime.