Lille, Toulouse, Lyon… These municipalities are smokin’ the way to energy sobriety
Reduce the energy bill to avoid cuts. For the 34,955 French municipalities, the objective is clear: we must set an example to encourage citizens to make efforts so that the country can get through the winter as well as possible.
It is precisely in this context that the city of Lille has ceased, since Monday, September 5, to illuminate its public buildings at night, outside the emblematic places of the municipality. According to Martine Aubry, PS mayor of the Lille metropolis, this measure will make it possible to “an annual energy consumption saving of approximately 170,000 kilowatt hours”ie the equivalent of the average annual consumption of 36 homes.
According to the elected socialist, the reduction of energy consumption is a long-standing trend for the city she has been leading since 2001. Indeed, according to the figures she puts forward, the Lille metropolis has reduced its consumption linked to lighting by 54%, compared to 2004. In 2028, thea reduction should reach 72%, again according to Martine Aubry. This drastic drop in consumption is linked, in particular, to “a very fine optimization of powers with, for most streets, a dimming of around 30% between midnight and 6 am”.
In Toulouse, we want to develop “intelligent” lighting
Precisely, another French metropolis relies on lighting to save money: it is the pink city, Toulouse. The municipality has thus implemented the “DEL 2026” plan. A device that aims to replace all of the city’s lighting fixtures by installing low-consumption light bulbs, just like what you have in your living room or kitchen. It must be said that these street lamps are often old. According to the French Lighting Association, the urban lighting network is 20 to 30 years old, on average.
On the Toulouse side, between 5,000 and 7,000 replacements are made each year. According to the town hall, this overhaul of the urban lighting system could make it possible to reduce electricity consumption by around one million kilowatt-hours a year… i.e. the average annual consumption of more than 200 French households.
Otherwise, Toulouse is experimenting with “intelligent lighting”. A technique which makes it possible to adapt, in real time, the lighting in the streets without making them more dangerous. Concretely, the objective would be to visualize in real time the frequentation of a street and to lower, consequently, the level of light. Thanks to this, the electricity consumption could be reduced by 80%.
In the south-east of France, in Lyon, energy sobriety will also go through the limitation of public lighting. Grégory Doucet has, in fact, decided to cut four days out of seven the lighting of part of the monuments of the capital of Gaul.
Strasbourg turns on the heating later
Last striking example, in the northeast. The euro-metropolis and the town hall of Strasbourg have decided to put on the heating to save money. Thus, the objective is to switch on the radiators as late as possible this autumn. In addition, the temperature will be limited to 19°C in all public buildings.
Moreover, like his counterparts, the mayor of Strasbourg has decided to limit public lighting, ban illuminated signs. Otherwise, the most energy-intensive public structures will be closed : swimming pools, ice rinks or media libraries are concerned.