The energy crisis in some European countries has darkened tourist spots once known for their lighting. The old continent has also restricted the use of heaters as winter approaches.
In Paris, known as the City of Light, several tourist attractions turn off their lights early. The lights on the Eiffel Tower, for example, are switched off every day since September 23 at 11:45 p.m. local time, 1:15 a.m. conventional time.
The lights in the Pyramid of the Louvre Museum will be switched off two hours earlier than usual and those in the Palace of Versailles one hour earlier.
1 of 3 Louvre museum pyramid illuminated at night in Paris, France, photo 2017 — Photo: Ali Sabbagh/Personal Archives
Pyramid of the Louvre Museum illuminated at night in Paris, France, 2017. Photo: Ali Sabbagh/Personal Archives
On the boulevard ChampsÉlysées, the lights will be switched off three hours earlier than usual every day from October 15. Energy saving measures are also expected to affect the Christmas decorations, which will be darker than in previous years.
Concerns about energy consumption in Europe grew after power outages in Russia. Other European countries are more vulnerable to Russian gas, but France has increased energy imports amid disruptions to some of its nuclear reactors.
2 of 3 avenue ChampsElysees in the French capital, photo taken December 31, 2021 — Photo: Portal/Christian Hartmann
Avenue des ChampsElysees in the French capital, taken December 31, 2021 — Photo: Portal/Christian Hartmann
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In Paris, the emergency plan aims to reduce the city’s energy consumption by 10%. In addition to lighting tourist attractions, the heating limit for public buildings has been lowered from 19°C to 18°C during the day and to 12°C at night and on weekends when buildings are empty.
The actions are seen as symbolic measures to warn of the energy crisis. “Symbols are important to raise awareness among the population,” said French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak.
3 out of 3 Mason Arms pubs in the UK use candlelight once a week to save energy — Photo: Reproduction/Facebook
Mason Arms Pub in the UK uses candlelight once a week to save energy — Photo: Reproduction/Facebook
In the UK, many pubs were at risk of ‘extinction’ as inflation in the country hit its highest level in 40 years. The situation prompted the government to announce a plan to subsidize 50% of businesses’ electricity and gas bills for six months.
Among those resisting the price hike is Mason Arms in the Cornwall region. The bar uses candlelight every Monday to help keep expenses down. The owner explained to The Guardian that this was the solution found after electricity bills rose by almost 120% in August 2022 compared to the same period last year.
In Germany, the government stopped lighting 200 monuments, including the Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace and the Victory Column. The measure was taken due to gas supply cuts by Russia.
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The federal government has also ordered that public buildings such as museums lower the heating limit to 19 °C and that the lighting in buildings and advertising spaces is to be switched off at 10 p.m.
There, Christmas trees and markets are expected to be less illuminated than in previous years, and that energyintensive ice rinks will be replaced with plastic rinks.
Italy and Spain also adopted measures to deal with the energy crisis. The two countries have set temperature limits for heating public spaces that will affect a range of facilities serving the public.
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