Extinguishing the fire! As part of the city of Bordeaux’s energy sobriety program, a large number of monuments and public buildings are now permanently switched off. This is one of the most visible ways to dramatically reduce energy consumption in the municipality’s plan.
Bordeaux’s symbol, the Place de la Bourse and its Three Graces fountain, will however remain lit until 11pm. The same goes for the Grand Theatre, the Town Hall, the Cathedral, the Three Gates (Caillau, Dijes and Burgundy), the Great Bell, the Saint-Michel Basilica, the Chaban-Delmas Bridge, the Drois de l’ Place des Droits de l”. The Man, the Girondins Monument and the Columns of the Quinconces Square. “Therefore, the silhouette of Bordeaux at night remains more or less the same“, the municipality notes.
Economic and environmental benefits
This removal of public lighting from more than a hundred monuments is the first step in a program of sobriety, announced at a press conference in September by Bordeaux’s conservationist mayor, Pierre Hurmic. The second, which is currently underway, consists of turning off all the motors of the illuminated billboards at night. A decision requiring each panel to be equipped with a clock, programmed to go off at 11:00 p.m. In addition, digital and animated advertising, as well as the installation of billboards within a hundred meters of an elementary school, are now prohibited.
The third phase of these energy saving measures, scheduled for January, is the reduction of public lighting. It is already being used by several municipalities in metropolitan France. Less frequented streets outside the hypercenter will be closed from 1 am to 5 am.to coincide with tram timetables“, the municipality clarifies. This austerity program should allow the city to save almost 2.6 million euros in 2023.
In addition, Bordeaux intends to increase energy production, particularly through the development of geothermal energy and photovoltaic panels. Pierre Hurmik announced on September 16 Twitter: that the city would reach– 20% electricity consumption for public lighting and 41% energy autonomy from 2023at the end of his term saying that “public services cannot depend on financial markets“.
Reducing public lighting at night, and therefore light pollution, is not just a financial issue. It is also beneficial for biodiversity and health. Light pollution will have really harmful effects, whether it’s on the health of city dwellers, bats or insects.
Source: Le Figaro
