“We made the goal to reduce fuel usage as part of the Chicago Climate Exchange,” Boomer said.

“This kind of proves that we’re capable.”

Boomer said Saturday’s demand for electricity is expected to be higher than Friday’s hour, but official numbers haven’t been established.

“This was the first time that we’ve asked users to participate in an event like this, but it was a campuswide effort,” Boomer said.

About 200 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Phoenix, were expected to turn off several nonessential lights between 8 and 9 p.m. Saturday, said Lee Poston, director of communications for World Wildlife Fund.

“It sends a message that we use a lot of energy we don’t need to around the world,” Poston said.

Ashley Hale, Earth Hour coordinator for Eco, an MSU student environmental group, said the level of participation was good given the size and population of the university.

“When you’re planning an event for the first time, it’s a lot of trial and error,” Hale said. “Bringing this to MSU is big, but 2 percent is a huge effort in reduction.”

Members of Eco and Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE, distributed flyers and made announcements during classes to get word out about Earth Hour, Hale said.

“Global climate change is one of the biggest issues of our time, and it’s important to talk about nonrenewable and dirty energy sources,” Hale said.

“Just relating why it’s important and connecting it to individuals is key.”