From BZ/dpa
During the energy crisis, savings are also being made on public lighting in Berlin. Is there a Christmas without lights? CDU leader Wegner warns.
The Berlin CDU chairman Kai Wegner has warned against doing without the Christmas lights in the city to save energy. “Light also means hope. And Christmas is the feast of hope,” said Wegner, who is also the leader of the parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, the German Press Agency. “Especially at this time, many people in our city need hope.”
Wegner reminded that Germany and Berlin are now in their third year of crisis and that this situation is making things difficult for many. “Many people were very lonely during the corona pandemic, especially because of the numerous requirements and rules. Christmas was particularly difficult for many,” he said. “We are still in the pandemic, but we can now deal with it differently.”
Added to this was a war in the middle of Europe – with the result of exploding energy and food prices. “So we have had crisis situations for three years. Turning off the lights at Christmas to celebrate in the dark is not the answer. I also appeal to Ms. Giffey and the Senate: Let Berlin shine,” Wegner said to the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) and the red-green-red state government. “Our city needs this sign of hope after three really difficult years.”
Apart from that, according to Wegner, doing without the Christmas lights would have negative consequences for retail or the catering and hotel industry. After the severe setbacks caused by Corona, these sectors, which are so important for Berlin’s economic power, have just begun to slowly recover. However, nobody wants to come to a dark metropolis over the holidays and the turn of the year.
The Berlin CDU parliamentary group leader Kai Wegner in the House of Representatives on June 23 Photo: dpa
In Berlin, the outdoor lighting of many prominent buildings had recently been switched off. Wegner also expressed doubts about the usefulness. “This is purely symbolic politics that is actually of no use to anyone.” The actual savings effect has not been proven.
“Now the dark season is coming,” says Wegner. “The lights must not go out in the city. Pedestrian zones, parks and sidewalks in particular need to be bright places. Because the more dark spaces that arise in Berlin because the Senate turns off the light switch, the more fearful spaces also arise. People will avoid them and will no longer want to go there.” Here you have to proceed with “a sense of proportion and reason”.
On the other hand, Wegner expects more speed from the Senate elsewhere. So far, only a quarter of Berlin’s street lamps have been converted to energy-saving LED technology. “We still have an unbelievable number of gas lamps and mercury vapor lamps, which are real energy guzzlers.” The conversion to LED must be much faster. “That would save money and energy and would also make a contribution to climate protection.”