Paris Pioneers Light Pollution Reduction

By Admin
Starting in July, all shops and offices in Paris, aka the city of lights, will be required to shut off all their lights at night under the Environment...

 

Starting in July, all shops and offices in Paris, aka the city of lights, will be required to shut off all their lights at night under the Environment Ministry's goal to make the country “a pioneer” in preventing light pollution.

Fear not, however, the main tourist attractions like the 20,000 flashing bulbs adorning the Eiffel Tower and certain holiday celebrations will be exempt from the new rule. Interior lights of non-residential buildings will be required to be turned off an hour after the last worker leaves, with all remaining lights out by 1am.

Environment Minister Dephine Batho says the practice will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 250,000 tonnes per year, the equivalent of the annual consumption of 750,000 households.

The new rule, though positive in its message, will only be effective if it's strongly enforced by government, warns a British energy conservationist:

"If France is going to enforce this then that's really good, but the worry is that they've introduced something that's perfectly logical, but then it’s not enforced. Then you've got the worst of both worlds,” said Andrew Warren, head of the UK's Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE), to BusinessGreen.

Others argue that there are other, more effective means to reduce the country's consumption of light, only 10 percent of which occurs at night.

“Lighting has a social role, it serves as a reference point,” said Elise Bourmeau, vice-president of the Lighting Union. “We will adapt. But truly, there are solutions that would allow us to keep them on in an energy efficient way.”

Read More in Energy Digital's December/January Issue

DOWNLOAD THE ENERGY DIGITAL IPAD APP

 

Share

Featured Articles

5 minutes with Stuart Broadley, Energy Industries Council

EIC CEO Stuart Broadley reveals the challenges that lie ahead for oil and gas firms now net zero is becoming an increasingly important goal for businesses

SAP: Is 'complex' wind energy supply chain slowing adoption?

SAP digital supply chain and manufacturing expert Darcy MacClaren warns complex logistics and complicated regulations are limiting wind energy adoption

Decentralised energy key to circumventing grid delays

Aggreko is advising the sector to consider short to mid-term decentralised energy solutions as an effective means of maintaining business continuity.

Renewable energy to become top source of electricity by 2025

Renewable Energy

Nuclear energy — the unsung hero of the climate challenge

Renewable Energy

UK and US announce energy partnership

Oil & Gas