The federal government is urging citizens to conserve electricity, but Germany's inner cities are lit up during Advent. How do energy crises and Christmas business coexist?
Freiburg's cathedral is a local landmark, and the lively and shiny Christmas market nearby is clearly home to tourists. Unlike many other attractions in Germany, the church is also illuminated during the energy crisis, although they use energy-efficient LED lights.
Thomas Barth, a Christmas market organisation in Freiburg, said they had been gradually replacing old-fashioned lighting with efficient LED technology for many years. The Christmas market there requires about 12,000 kilowatt-hours of lighting a year. "Because of the energy crisis, we had to look at where we could achieve more savings. So we started lighting the Christmas lights four hours late this year. It used to start at 10 a.m., but now it starts at 2 p.m. This saves 30% of electricity consumption. In response to the energy crisis, the plan is to follow the rule of delaying the lighting of Christmas markets.
The Christmas retail business is satisfactory
Demian Traber runs a sausage and mulled wine stand at the Freiburg Christmas Market. Last year's Christmas market closed after only six days due to the coronavirus pandemic, and he lost about 10,000 euros. Staffing shortages and inflation have created more problems this year. Many of his colleagues are struggling financially.
Traber is "very satisfied" with the Christmas market business that is currently approaching two weeks. The market is crowded. Despite complaints about the overpriced prices (mulled wine and grilled sausages cost 4 euros each), he doesn't care, as he is familiar with the Christmas market, because "every year there are complaints like this." "He switched to LED lighting for his booth a few years ago, reducing power consumption. But not all aspects can be energy efficient, he said: "I can't grill the intestines and only use half the flame." ”
The Christmas business has always been very important to the retail industry. For many sectors, it even accounts for a large part of the annual turnover. Sabine Hagmann, Managing Director of the Baden-Württemberg Retail Association, said: "After two and a half years of the ongoing crisis and the resulting decline in sales, this year's Christmas business is extremely important. Many retailers are desperately relying on strong sales. "Christmas lights are very important to the atmosphere of the inner city.
Reduce decoration and reduce indoor heating temperature
In the "Das Gerber" shopping center in the center of Stuttgart, most outdoor lighting will remain switched off this year due to the energy crisis. New Christmas lights, such as headlights, have been deactivated. Center manager Guido Reuter said. "We rely on LED lighting internally" because we don't want to be without Christmas decorations.
Dirk Keuthen, manager of Milaneo Shopping Center in Stuttgart, agrees: "This year we also want to offer our visitors a beautiful and festive Christmas atmosphere. "Christmas Eve is the busiest time of year for shopping centre stores. Instead of having no Christmas decorations at all, reduce the decorations. "After the mall's shutdown time, switching the lighting to night mode also significantly reduced power consumption."
However, managers of both commercial centers emphasize that greater savings can be achieved by adjusting air conditioning and heating technology, such as lowering temperatures.
Annual electricity consumption of private households
Energy group EnBW said: "In the current situation, every small contribution to saving energy is welcome. The electricity saved at places such as the Freiburg Christmas Market is around 4,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is equivalent to more than a year's worth of electricity for a private household.
The supplier said, "Network operators still believe that power supply is tight this winter. This is related to the situation in neighboring countries and the total capacity of power plants available in Europe this winter. "Natural gas is also used to generate electricity. If electricity consumption is reduced, it will also ease the pressure on the natural gas market. Every kilowatt-hour saved helps.
Neu-Isenburg became a model for local energy efficiency
Compared to Freiburg im Breisgau and Stuttgart, Neu-Isenburg in Hesse is taking more radical measures to save electricity. The streets there are no traditional Christmas decorations this year. In previous years, all 11 trees on the street were illuminated, and it was said that each tree used about 120 watts. This year they abandoned the tradition altogether. Mayor Dirk Gene Hagelstein said, "About six weeks can save about 12,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. "The energy cost for this alone is about 3,000 euros.
In addition, they will build a synthetic ice rink this year instead of a real ice skating rink. This also consumes no electricity, saving around 22,000 kWh of energy compared to previous years.
A preliminary assessment by the Federal Network Agency shows that Germany is clearly on the right track when it comes to saving electricity: since June 2022, electricity consumption in 2022 is lower than in the corresponding month in 2021. "In some months, electricity consumption is close to the level of Covid 2020.