Cologne cathedral in the new light: save energy and protect nature!

Cologne cathedral in the new light: save energy and protect nature!

The Cologne Cathedral, one of the best -known sights of the city, has experienced a drastic reduction in his lighting three years ago since the beginning of the Russian attack war on Ukraine. This decision was made to save energy, which is of great importance in view of the current energy situation. From one o'clock in the morning, the lighting of the cathedral is significantly down, so that many components can only be recognized shadowy. A measure that should not only reduce energy consumption, but also serves the protection of nature around the cathedral, where algae, ferns and moths live.

The BUND for environmental and nature conservation has criticized this progressive light pollution. However, the cathedral builder Peter Füssenich emphasizes that a targeted radiation is illuminated fewer components and relativizes the criticism compared to surrounding buildings.

new LED lighting

On Easter Sunday, the new LED lighting of the Cologne Cathedral was activated at 9:30 p.m. Instead of the previous 250 halogen spotlights, around 700 LED lights are now being used. This conversion leads to a reduction of around 80 % both in the amount of light and energy consumption. Cathedral architect Peter Füssenich emphasizes that the new LED lights bring the three-dimensionality of the impressive building into its own.

The development and implementation of this new lighting was the result of years of cooperation between the city of Cologne, Rheinenergie, the cathedral building hut and the light planning office "Licht Art Licht". Martin Reker, the mayor of Cologne, as well as cathedral propstation Guido Assmann and Rheinenergie board member Andreas Feicht were involved in the active inauguration of the new lamps. Despite the positive aspects of the new lighting, conservationists say that the changes could possibly have negative effects on insects and light -sensitive species.

RheinEnergie opposes these concerns and emphasizes the sustainability and the low -light emission design of the new structured lighting. Light pollution is also reduced by these new measures, and the lighting can be adjusted in an insect -friendly manner.

sustainability and energy saving

The old lighting consumed around 54 kilowatts, while the new system only needs an average of about 11 kilowatts. This change leads to annual CO2 savings of around 63 tons. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research, around 63 percent of electricity consumption in Germany are eliminated by industry, trade, trade and services. LED technology is praised as cost-saving and bright. The conversion to LED can reduce energy consumption by up to 70 percent.

Although the advantages of LED technology are clear, lower conversion rates are observed. Only 15 percent of companies have switched more than 75 percent of their lighting to LED. The main reasons for this are high investment costs and supposedly perfect old technology. Funding programs for energy efficiency were introduced nationwide and at the country level to support the conversion.

The new lighting of the Cologne cathedral stands not only for aesthetic change, but also for contemporary environmental awareness and the endeavors to act more efficiently. Their effects on nature and cityscape will continue to be critically observed by various actors.

For more details on the news about the Cologne Cathedral, visit WDR , katholisch.de and Highlight web .