Environmental help on Christmas lights: Will it stay dark this year?

Status: 09/26/2022 07:22 a.m

The German Environmental Aid suggests omitting the Christmas lights this year – because of the energy crisis, but also the climate crisis. The private electricity consumption alone corresponds to that of a medium-sized city per year.

Especially in view of the energy crisis, the German Environmental Aid has suggested doing without Christmas lights this year. That should “be a matter of course” – in cities and communities as well as houses and apartments, said Federal Managing Director Jürgen Resch of the editorial network Germany.

“In view of the war in Ukraine, the energy shortage, but also for reasons of climate protection, we should pause for a moment,” said Resch. He pointed out the power consumption: “The private lighting orgies alone cause a power consumption of over 600 million kilowatt hours per year – as much as a medium-sized city with 400,000 inhabitants uses in a year.”

One lighted tree per city or municipality?

In addition, there would be the possible savings by doing without the Christmas lights in the cities and communities. Resch considered: “Perhaps this can be reduced to one illuminated tree per community.” Consciously doing without, saving and showing solidarity could even make this Christmas season a very special one.

In view of the energy crisis, a waiver of Christmas lights is also being discussed in other countries – such as Austria. According to a survey by the trade association, many traders are planning to do so themselves because of the sharp rise in electricity costs.

In Germany, there has already been a discussion in recent years about using Christmas lights at least less – in favor of climate protection.

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