“Frankfurt’s Dark Skyline: Why the City’s Landmarks Remain Unilluminated”

“Frankfurt looks like it’s switched off”: The Energy Saving Ordinance has no longer applied since mid-April, but the landmarks are still not illuminated

Frankfurt – The great energy saving in Germany is over – only Frankfurt’s cityscape remains dark. Hardly any skyscrapers are illuminated, Romans, bridges, cathedrals and churches are still not illuminated. City government and skyscraper owners continue to refer to energy saving. “That’s not a good sign for a cosmopolitan city like Frankfurt,” says Michael Wutzke, who initiated the “Skyline Atlas” internet portal in 1996. He was recently in New York, “that’s another great, bright city. Frankfurt, on the other hand, seems to have been turned off.”

The federal government’s energy saving requirements have not applied since mid-April, and lighting is permitted again after 10 p.m. However, it is only switched on again in four high-rise buildings: Marienturm (155 meters), One Forty West in the Westend, Winx Tower near Willy-Brandt-Platz and City Gate on Nibelungenplatz. At 259 meters, the tallest tower, the Commerzbank Tower, was the only one that was illuminated daily until 10 p.m. during the winter. The bank kept it that way.

Invested in LED technology – for free? Frankfurt’s Messeturm also remains dark

The darkness is most noticeable at the iconic pyramid of the 257 meter high Messeturm. For 31 years he shaped the nocturnal skyline. Most recently, owner Office First even invested 100 million euros in the renovation, including in economical LED lighting technology. Office First did not want to comment on why it remains switched off either last fall or now.

Deka Immobilien, however, owner of the 200 meter high Tower 185, answered. Sustainability has been part of the business strategy for years, says a spokeswoman. “In the interests of sustainable management, we therefore decided not to use the lighting at night.”

It’s more of a “symbolic gesture,” says Wutzke. Thanks to LED technology, which enables savings of 95 percent, the energy consumption of the facade lights is low and does not matter in the overall consumption of the house. Nevertheless, Trianon, Opernturm or the Europaturm are still dark. The owners acted this way out of “indirect pressure”, says Wutzke, they “want to avoid shitstorms”. So they looked to the city.

The city of Frankfurt did not even debate – “Basic requirements have not changed”

And it relies on darkness. Why? There was “no big debate about it,” admits city treasurer Bastian Bergerhoff (Greens), who is responsible for the churches. The magistrate’s decision to switch off in the fall simply continues to apply. Because it is light for a long time in the evenings, the use of lighting is less in summer anyway. “We’ll leave it out for the short term,” the decision was therefore made.

As early as mid-April, environmental department head Rosemarie Heilig (Greens) announced that the city would not turn on its lights again. “The magistrate will regularly discuss and decide on the possible scope to withdraw individual measures,” she wrote.

“Since the basic requirements have not changed – the Ukraine war is ongoing, the energy supply is still not completely guaranteed – we have decided to continue to operate the traffic-safety street lighting at reduced power,” explains Wulfila Walter, office manager of Stefan Majer (Greens), head of the mobility department. . The light illuminations on bridges, squares and the banks of the Main were completely absent. Especially since each switching on or off in the traffic area alone costs 25,000 euros, since many lamps are not centrally controlled. This sum cost the savings once before last autumn. How much the city saves, on the other hand, she can say next year at the earliest, when the annual accounts are available, says Heilig. The office of Mayor Mike Josef (SPD), responsible for the town hall lighting, did not answer a request.

“Not appropriate for a cosmopolitan city” – Frankfurt’s skyline is less illuminated anyway

Darkness in the cityscape and in the skyline is not appropriate for a cosmopolitan city, says skyline specialist Wutzke. By switching on its lights, the city must signal to the high-rise owners that they can use their economical LED technology again.

In any case, Frankfurt’s skyline is only sparsely illuminated in international comparison – and only a little colored. “The symbolism that Frankfurt is currently sending out is not good.” The city is a beacon for Germany and Europe. “And a lighthouse must shine.”