A Berlin street lamp burns in broad daylight; BZ editor Andreas Vollbrechtshausen Photo: picture alliance / picture agency online/Schöning
By Andreas Vollbrechtshausen
There was a time when Berliner Tempo stood for speed. It’s been a long time. Because today Berliner Tempo probably stands for extreme slowness. The most recent example: the gas lanterns.
The Senate had already decided in 2011 to convert these lanterns to electricity. By June, a total of 20,800 of the 44,000 gas lanterns had been converted – in eleven long years.
Now 1400 gas specimens also shine day and night. This is because the switching mechanism is defective and otherwise the lighting at night cannot be guaranteed. Outlook: That will take time, because workshop appointments are now tight and the material is difficult to get.
And the motive for converting to electricity in 2011 was: massive amounts of money should be saved! In the meantime, gas has become even more expensive – and 1,400 lights waste energy in 24/7 mode. A bit strange.