Rennes had already recorded the one degree drop in temperature in its swimming pools since April, before doing it again at the end of August to reach a ceiling of 27 degrees in the water and 28 in the air. Faced with the explosion in the cost of energy, the municipality has resigned itself to lowering it further. In the four swimming pools of the Breton capital, the temperature will now be 26 degrees in the water and 27 degrees in the air. Its two most gourmet basins (Saint-Georges and Villejean) will even be closed during all the Christmas, February and spring holidays. These are not the only measures that the city has just taken, far from it. In an attempt to limit the explosion of its energy bill, the municipality has published a series of restrictions which should allow it to reduce its consumption by 15%.
The numbers speak for themselves. While the gas and electricity bill was five million euros in 2020 in Rennes, it should be 12 million euros in 2022, according to mayor Nathalie Appéré. And for 2023, it’s worse. According to service forecasts, the note could reach 24 million euros, almost five times more than two years ago! To cope with this, the municipality will close four of its ten leisure centers during the holidays, redirecting the children. Elected officials will not be spared and will have to leave the less well-insulated premises to be welcomed at City Hall.
Heating start delayed
Faced with the explosion of costs, Rennes will also delay the start of heating after the autumn holidays in all its municipal buildings, except in nurseries and nursing homes. The nocturnal lighting of the facades of heritage buildings will also be suspended. And the power of lighting in gymnasiums will be reduced by 30%. In anticipation of next summer, the city has also closed its ice rink in the summer.
With the approach of the end of year celebrations, the Breton municipality has however maintained the Christmas lights and the end of year festivities. The perimeter of the illuminations will be reduced by a third and the projections of the Christmas spectacle on the town hall cut short. All the measures should make it possible to reduce the bill by 1.8 million euros.