Berlin’s famous buildings turn off the lights to save energy 

Berlin’s famous buildings turn off the lights to save energy 

Berlin’s famous buildings turn off the lights overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, as part of a national effort to save energy amid fears of winter shortages. 

Some 200 buildings in Germany’s capital, including the Victory Column, Charlottenburg Palace and the town hall of the municipality, will eventually no longer be lit up at night. 

“Given the war against Ukraine and the threats from Russia in terms of energy policy, it is important that we use our energy as carefully as possible,” said Bettina Jarasch, senator for the environment, mobility and consumers in Berlin. 

The city will save on the energy usage of 1,00 projectors used to illuminate these sites.

Berlin won’t save money initially as a result of this new measure, since the cost of intervening is the same as the €40,000 in electricity costs saved over one year. To stop the building’s lighting up automatically at night, human intervention is needed – which will take several weeks to complete. 

“the energy saving effect is decisive for the measurement, not pure profitability

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To stop the automatic mechanisms that turn lights on at nightfall, building-by-building human intervention is necessary, which will take several weeks to complete.  

In the short term, “the energy saving effect is decisive for the measurement, not pure profitability”, according to officials in Berlin, which consumes around 200,000-kilowatt hours annually.

Head of state Frank-Walter Steinmeier also announced this week that his official residence in Berlin, Bellevue Palace, would no longer be lit at night, except on special occasions, such as state visits.

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Rising prices since Russia invaded Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been calling on the nation to save energy, amid rising prices since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

Russia recently reduced gas supplies to Germany – one of its main customers – as part of the ongoing standoff with the West. This latest development has fuelled fears of winter shortages and tough times ahead for many. 

Germany has launched a campaign to encourage and promote practices such as lowering the air con in buildings, using public transport and buying shower heads that use less water. 

Many major cities across the country have also announced energy conservation plans.

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany bought 55% of its gas from Russia. In June they had reduced it to 35%, but it still leaves Germany at the mercy of gas cuts decided by Moscow. 

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