In the cold of late fall and early winter, their flashes are a certain comfort and very often an invitation to magic. As Christmas approaches, the streets of our cities will gradually be decorated with garlands and light installations. However, the 2022 edition, marked by rising energy prices, is prompting some municipalities to announce energy-saving measures, even if it means rethinking their plans for Christmas lights. It is quite simple. in some cities they should shine less or shine differently. In a symbolic case, in the city of Strasbourg, which decided to reduce its Christmas lights by 20%. The purpose: to achieve a 10% reduction in electricity consumption this year.
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For the Alsace capital, famous for its Christmas market, which has around 2.5 million visitors a year, this symbolic event is part of a more global program of environmental responsibility. “There is already a regulatory framework. For example, since March, it is forbidden to heat outdoor terraces or other temporary structures, including chalets.,- tells us the deputy mayor of Strasbourg, Guillaume Liebsig, who is specifically responsible for city activities. The city has been working with exhibitors for two years to implement more environmentally sound events. The energy price crisis has accelerated this process. A true institution in Alsace, throughout France and across Europe, the Christmas market will also be reduced; it will begin on November 25 and close on the evening of December 24. Same a week earlier than previous editions. The outdoor lighting will be turned off at 11:00 PM instead of midnight. Will it be a tree? Yes! But this symbolChristmas capitalthis year it will be completely paid off from 1 to 5, announced the mayor of environmental protection Zhanna Barseghyan.
When sobriety aligns with reinventing yourself
A similar choice was made in other cities, such as Paris. The Christmas lights on the Champs Elysées will go down at 11:45 p.m., 2:15 earlier than in previous years (except for New Year’s Eve on December 24 and 31). The photos will not wait long. And they will last six weeks instead of seven, from November 20 to January 2, 2023 inclusive. The Champs-Élysées Committee announced that the decision to reduce the lighting amplitude for a week would allow energy savings of 44% during that period.
The phenomenon is not sparing ski resorts, which are already having to adapt to rising energy costs. In Haute-Savoie, Avoriaz, in the municipality of Morzine, a resort known for being 100% pedestrian, the illumination will last until January 20. Last year, they were still in place during the February holidays. And their amplitude will decrease significantly. only wreaths on fir trees, while the previous edition was characterized by a light installation throughout the center of the resort.
Don’t succumb to the situation, but reinvent yourself. This seems to be the mantra for many municipalities. Even if reducing the number of illuminations can be heartbreaking. “We do it with the death of the soul”confides Sileiman Sou, the deputy mayor of Rouen, who is responsible in particular for the economy, trade and public events. “We had forced the line on the lighting the previous two years because we knew it was going to be fun.” There is no question of multiplying lighting in 2022, when energy costs have a heavy impact on households. On this subject, the city of Rouen wanted to set an example. “In addition to reducing the temporal amplitude of our lighting fixtures (from 17.00 to 21.00, instead of from 17.00 to 13.00 – editor’s note), we reduced the illuminated surface by 66%”declares Sileiman Sou.
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Drastic measures that forced the capital of Normandy to rethink its stage design. “We kept the traditional layout, for example, with the lighting of the shopping center. We also wanted to target more popular and fringe areas that may have been overlooked before.”, explains the deputy mayor. However, there is no such thing as a sad Christmas, we are told. “We have very inventive services that have managed to combine magic and fantasy. The same approach from Strasbourg, where we wanted a better distribution of lighting, in addition to other events. “Some places are very, even too well lit, others are just enough. We want to go to them. This is characterized, for example, by the fact of lighting the heart of the square, no longer the surroundings, or even distributing the lighting to other areas, for example, to the suburbs., explains Guillaume Liebsig. Strasbourg even wants to go further by repurposing some of its light installations for other occasions.
Democratized use of LEDs
Therefore, sobriety and magic can be mixed. “The demand for sobriety does not contradict the magic of Christmas. We must preserve this magic, but it can be done in a reasonable way., explains Bruno Lafitte, expert at Adème Lighting and Data Center (environmental agency, for communities). To achieve this, you need LED lamps, which are known for consuming little electricity. “We’re going from 15W to 1W LEDs for holiday wreaths”, continues Bruno Lafitte. There, under the tree, nothing new. A certain saving had already allowed the democratization of LEDs since 2015. For example, that year Limoges divided its energy costs by seven by choosing LEDs.
And with the constant evolution of technology, public and private players now rely on them to improve performance. “As we change light decor, we go to more and more powerful, more efficient LEDs. This year we chose the latest generation of LEDs with a control system that allows adjustments to be made to the scenography.”Edouard Lefebvre, chief delegate of the Champs-Élysées Committee, elaborates. “It is possible to achieve new enlightenment that we could not do before”– adds Bruno Lafitte, before sounding the alarm. “However, one must be careful not to multiply the lights”.
The issue of Christmas lights, the crown jewel of a more global reflection of public lighting. “These are visible installations and they directly affect the electricity bill. But it’s not through reduced lighting or better governance that we’re going to revolutionize community consumption.”, warns Ademi’s representative. Moreover, for many municipalities, sobriety is more global. In Strasbourg, for example, the 2022 edition provided more in-depth work on waste management. The board of directors of the Champs-Élysées Committee has been asked by Paris for greater participation in energy efforts; traders and brands are advised to switch off their windows and screens between 10pm and 7am.
So many ways to reduce your electricity bill, but also to think more globally about environmental and ecological issues. And very bad for magic. with October being the hottest on record since records began, concern remains. This year, the totem object of Strasbourg is the snowflake. But the latter may be absent at Christmas.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.