Some public buildings, including the world's tallest Taipei 101, would also join the "Lights Out Day" campaign, said the Society of Wilderness, one of the organisers.

Taiwan High Speed Rail planned to dim decorative lights at six stations across the island for an hour, it said, adding that Taipei 101's lights would go off for just 10 minutes.

"As global warming worsens, international cities such as London and those in Taiwan and Japan will go 'lights out' this week to help cool the earth," it said in a statement.

"We hope this event will encourage the public to conserve energy in their daily lives."

A total of 52 government or commercial buildings were expected to turn off their lights, it said.