As the holidays approach, cities are trying to combine magic and sobriety

While the scenario of power cuts worries France, the atmosphere is no longer an orgy of light in the public space.

Main illustration, most municipalities have reduced the time amplitude and the duration of their illuminations, which will go out just after the New Year.

In Rennes, the town hall has installed 2 kilometers of garlands but has reduced "by 34%" the perimeter of its illuminations.

"All the mayors to whom I speak make an effort of sobriety so that it is less costly for the community, without giving up on these celebrations being moments of collective joy", observes Guy Geoffroy, president of the association of Eco-Mayors of France.

In mid-November, the National Association for the Protection of the Night Sky and the Environment (ANPCEN) published a guide to good practices for communities, recalling that in 2017 "the electrical power called for decorations at the end of year was 1.300 MW, the equivalent of a nuclear power plant unit".

"Overall, sobriety is progressing, even if the understanding of the issue varies a lot according to the municipal teams", comments Anne-Marie Ducroux, the spokesperson for the association, "we have all seen light decorations installed from the start of November".

Among the advice given, that of "inventing decorations based on plants, small mirrors, papers and ribbons, without systematically resorting to artificial light".

If the LEDs allow significant savings, they must however "not be used as a pretext to multiply the quantity of artificial light emitted", warns the ANPCEN on the other hand.

In Tours, Lille, Avignon, La Baule or Vincennes, it is the artificial ice rink, deemed to consume too much water and electricity, which has borne the brunt of energy austerity.

"We have kept the pleasure of sliding by installing a roller track", explains to AFP Charlotte Libert-Albanel, the UDI mayor of Vincennes (Val-de-Marne), who refuses "to sacrifice the young generation, who has already suffered from covid, on the altar of sobriety".

Transparency

Some municipalities, such as Rochefort or Royan (Charente-Maritime) have given up their ice rink, while others are turning to synthetics.

Izifun, a company specializing in the rental of this type of ice rink, thus recorded a 25% increase in demand from local authorities this year.

Giant lanterns powered by fourteen photovoltaic panels, with emergency generators powered by frying oil, in Bordeaux, giant Christmas tree donated by individuals in Tours, slower Ferris wheel to consume less in Lille... sobriety initiatives do not miss.

The consumption of Christmas markets is also closely scrutinized as in Lille, where the specifications require 100% LED lighting and "no individual heaters", in application of the Climate law.

In Strasbourg, "Christmas capital", the municipal team is aiming for a 10% reduction in electricity consumption in its emblematic market.

In Lyon, EELV mayor Grégory Doucet maintained the traditional Festival of Lights, explaining that the electrical envelope only represented 3.500 euros out of the nearly 3 million spent on the festival.

If the regulations oblige since 2018 the shops to turn off their windows no later than 1:00 am, "there are very few controls", underlines the ANPCEN. Furthermore, there are no national regulations specific to street lighting.

As a result, there is a "very large disparity from one municipality to another" and the cities "rarely play on transparency on their costs", recognizes Nicolas Nace, of Greenpeace France.

"Those with the most means can afford to waste energy, but the more we consume, the more the prices will increase, and the more there will be tension on the networks and the risk of cuts", warns Mr. Nace, which calls for "common rules everywhere in France".