Fast food chain McDonald’s is to turn off its trademark lit-up golden arches in New Zealand in response to a nationwide campaign to reduce electricity use by 10%.
The country is expecting power shortages this winter after low rainfall led to low levels of water in hydroelectricity lakes, which provide most of New Zealand’s electricity. The country’s natural gas reserves are also running low.
Doing its bit to help out, McDonald’s says it will turn off all unnecessary lighting and machinery, including the golden arches on the roofs of some of its 148 restaurants in the country.
“That was quite a tough call to make because lighting actually plays a key role in telling people your business is open,” spokesman Liam Jeory was quoted by ananova.com as saying.
