This second term energy sobriety target in Europe will reach one of the symbols of France. The Eiffel Tower, one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world, will turn off its lights earlier than usual in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere to save electricity.
The initiative came from the mayor of Paris, socialist Anne Hidalgo. It is preparing to announce its plan to save energy in the French capital in the coming months on Tuesday, 13th. However, one of the most symbolic measures – reducing the lighting time of the Eiffel Tower – has already been confirmed to the press by local authorities.
The “Iron Lady”, also known as the Monument, will turn off its lights earlier than usual at 11:45 PM, 01:15 PM. According to the Eiffel Tower Exploration Society (Seven), there is still no firm date for the plan to go into effect, but the goal is for it to be adopted as soon as possible.
Currently, the lights on the Eiffel Tower turn on as soon as night falls and stay on until 1am. In total, 336 floodlights paint the monument’s structure gold at night. It also flashes 20,000 light bulbs per hour, giving the “Iron Lady” a radiant look. This show, watched by thousands of tourists every day, continues at midnight.
With the energy sobriety plan going into effect, the tower will shine for the last time at 23:00.
symbolic gesture
The measure in question was even questioned by the French press before it was announced. The newspaper asked, “What is the real effect of dimming the tower’s lighting?” she asks Le Parisien this Monday (12). For Jean-François Martins, the head of Sete, it is necessary to “set an example” in the context of the fear of an energy crisis. According to him, the monument’s night lighting represents 4% of the “Iron Lady”‘s total electricity consumption.
“It’s a good decision to use lighting when we really need it. The aim is a bit economical, but it is necessary to set an example, to participate in awareness and mobilization,” he says.
Long closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Eiffel Tower – engineer Gustave Eiffel’s work completed in 1889 – has continued this year with the same level of attendance as before the health crisis, with an average of more than 20,000 visitors per capita. day.
He gave an interview to the newspaper Le Parisien, residents of the French capital seem to support the initiative. Some are Queen Elizabeth II, who died on the same day, several times. As for Elizabeth last Thursday (8), she remembers that the monument was closed all night.
source: Noticias
