The Eiffel Tower, perhaps Paris’ most famous landmark, is well known for being illuminated at night. Indeed, its lighting system gives the tower a golden glow. It also appears to “flicker” every hour at night in a display using 20,000 flashing lights.
Now, however, the lights of the Eiffel Tower will turn off earlier each evening.
Normally, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated until 1am every evening. Instead, from September 23, the lights will be turned off after the last visitor leaves at 11:45 p.m. Mayor Anne Hidalgo, explains.
This measure is part of the electricity savings plan of the City of Paris while the energy crisis persists in Europe following the Russian war in Ukraine. Most of France’s power typically comes from its own nuclear reactors, but half of those reactors are currently offline, forcing France to seek power in Germany – which itself faces a shortage of electricity. gas due to reduced supplies from Russia, according to euro news.
In response, French President Emmanuel Macron has asked industry, households and municipal authorities to reduce energy consumption by 10% in a bid to avoid the need for electricity rationing this winter.
Turning off the lights of the Eiffel Tower earlier each evening “is a highly symbolic gesture that is part of the growing awareness around energy sobriety”, said Jean-François Martins, head of the management of the tower, according to euro news.
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower, named after the engineer and entrepreneur Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower, is located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, a large public green space on the left bank of the Seine.
Construction of the Eiffel Tower began on January 26, 1887 and ended on March 31, 1889. It was completed just in time for the 1889 World’s Fair, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
The tower, which is 300 meters (984 ft) high, has three levels. Its upper platform, at 906 feet above the ground, is the highest viewing platform open to visitors in the European Union.
Now, about those 20,000 bulbs responsible for nighttime displays. They were installed in 1985 by 25 mountaineers, according to the direction of the Eiffel Tower. The installation process took 5 months.
Other energy saving measures
It’s not just the Eiffel Tower that is affected by Paris’s energy-saving measures.
Paris officials also plan to save energy by delaying the time they start heating public buildings by a month, moving that date back from mid-October to mid-November.
Additionally, when the heat is turned on in all buildings in the city, thermostats will be set to a temperature 1 degree lower than normal during the day, dropping from 19 to 18 degrees Celsius – 66 to 64 degrees Fahrenheit – during the day. working day. After hours and on weekends when the buildings are unoccupied, the temperature will be set at 12 degrees Celsius (53 degrees Fahrenheit), the City of Paris explains.
In addition, the lighting of certain exterior facades and municipal monuments will be turned off at 10 p.m. from September 23, including the Hôtel de Ville and the Hôtel de Ville de Paris. However, public lighting such as streetlights will be left on “to ensure the safety of Parisians”, explains the City of Paris.
Finally, Mayor Hidalgo also plans to ask the French government to adjust the lighting program for national monuments in Paris, such as the domed Pantheon and the Arc de Triomphe, according to the Associated Press.
You can read more about Paris’ plans to save energy here.
While you’re thinking about the City of Light, be sure to visit all of our Paris content, including:
