Paris Turns the Lights Down a Beat for Winter Energy
Why the City of Light is Now a Bit of a Power Saver
Mayor Anne Hidalgo announced on Tuesday that the Eiffel Tower will switch off its lights an hour earlier than usual, municipal pools will be cooler, and public buildings will heat down to conserve power this winter.
These moves are part of a national push to meet President Emmanuel Macron‘s mandate: reduce industrial, household and municipal energy use by 10 % in response to Russia’s gas cuts and soaring energy prices.
While France isn’t as gas‑trapped as its neighbours, a surge in nuclear reactor outages has forced the country to import electricity at a time when it usually exports, tightening the strain on markets.
Key Energy‑Saving Tactics
- Eiffel Tower lighting: Currently on until 1 a.m., the tower’s 20,000 bulbs shimmer every hour. Turning them off at 11:45 p.m. cuts its power use by 4 %.
- Pool temperature: From September 23, city pools’ water will be lowered from 26 °C to 25 °C.
- Public‑building heating: Lights will be swapped off at 10 p.m. and heating reduced to 18 °C.
Even with long‑term contracts to buffer steep price hikes, Paris’s annual energy bill is projected to reach €90 million—about €35 million higher than usual.
“Paris will always be the City of Light,” the mayor mused, reminding residents that a lighter city is a brighter one—just a bit cooler.
