The Star Malaysia

Energy crisis dims holidays

European cities limit festive lights as they grapple with power crunch

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Early season merrymaker­s sipping mulled wine and shopping for holiday decoration­s packed the Verona Christmas market for its inaugural weekend.

But beyond the wooden market stalls, the Italian city still has not decked out its granite-clad pedestrian streets with twinkling holiday lights as officials debate how bright to make the season during an energy crisis.

In cities across Europe, officials are wrestling with a choice as energy prices have gone up because of Russia’s war in Ukraine: Dim Christmas lighting to send a message of energy conservati­on and solidarity with citizens squeezed by higher utility bills and inflation, while protecting public coffers. Or let the lights blaze in a message of defiance after two years of pandemic-suppressed Christmas seasons, illuminati­ng cities with holiday cheer that retailers hope will loosen people’s purse strings.

“If they take away the lights, they might as well turn off Christmas,” said Estrella Puerto.

Fewer lights are sparkling from the centrepiec­e tree at the famed Strasbourg Christmas market, which attracts two million people every year, as the French city seeks to reduce public energy consumptio­n by 10% this year.

From Paris to London, city officials are limiting hours of holiday illuminati­on, and many have switched to more energy-efficient LED lights or renewable energy sources.

London’s Oxford Street shopping district hopes to cut energy consumptio­n by two-thirds by limiting the illuminati­on of its lights to 3-11pm and installing LED bulbs.

“Ecological­ly speaking, it’s the only real solution,’’ said Paris resident Marie Breguet. “The war and energy squeeze is a reality. No one will be hurt with a little less of the illuminati­ons this year.”

It’s lights out along Budapest’s Andrassy Avenue, which officials decided would not be bathed in more than 2km of white lights as in years past. Lighting is also being cut back on city landmarks, including bridges over the Danube River.

“Saving on decorative lighting is about the fact that we are living in times when we need every drop of energy,’’ said Budapest’s deputy mayor, Ambrus Kiss.

The holiday will shine brightly in Germany, where the year-end season is a major boost to retailers and restaurant­s.

Emergency cutbacks announced this fall specifical­ly exempted religious lighting, “in particular Christmas”, even as environmen­tal activists called for restraint.

“Many yards look like something out of an American Christmas film,’’ grumbled Environmen­tal Action Germany.

 ?? — ap ?? Tough choice: visitors strolling around Strasbourg’s Christmas market in France. european cities are torn between dimming lights to conserve energy and letting the lights blaze in a message of defiance after two years of pandemic-suppressed Christmas seasons.
— ap Tough choice: visitors strolling around Strasbourg’s Christmas market in France. european cities are torn between dimming lights to conserve energy and letting the lights blaze in a message of defiance after two years of pandemic-suppressed Christmas seasons.

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