Ville-d’Avray, Meudon, Eaubonne, Franconville… These municipalities have decided to turn off their streetlights for part of the night. Objective: to save their budget and energy, “sobriety” obliges. Does this measure actually work?
They are more and more numerous in Île-de-France to want the end of nocturnal public lighting. Chaville, Meudon or even Ville-d’Avray (Hauts-de-Seine) have joined the ranks of these cities since October 15th.
On the occasion of night day, they have implemented this measure or are about to introduce it. This system aims in particular to comply with the “energy sobriety” desired by the President of the Republic. In the cities concerned, changes are beginning to be felt.
15 kilometers southwest of Paris is Ville-d’Avray (Hauts-de-Seine). Since November 1, the lights have been extinguished between 1:40 a.m. and 5:40 a.m. “According to our assumptions, this avoids 29,200 euros in expenses for the municipality. The equivalent of 150 to 200 euros per night will be saved in each participating city”, rejoices Aline de Marcillac. A device of magnitude according to the elected (Various right), to better face this troubled period: “It is an emergency measure: the idea is to convey the message that individuals are called upon to make an effort. Municipalities must also do the same. So we save on public lighting and heating”.
The expected energy savings are significant, according to the mayor of the town: “Ville-d’Avray’s eight electrical cabinets consume approximately 400,000 kilowatt hours per year for 4,000 hours of lighting. There, these four hours of lighting shutdown will save 1,460 hours of lighting over the year. That’s almost 146,000 kilowatt hours less per year. If we compare, it is the consumption of 30 households over a year or that of 764 washing machines. Compared to the cost of lighting, therefore the subscription, depreciation and maintenance of street lamps, we will be on a reduction of just under 30% compared to what we currently pay.
This strong measure is taken for a “indeterminate period”. In parallel, “an investment plan” was planned by the municipality. “We are going to invest in lighting with LED diodes, which are more economical”, explains Aline de Marcillac. Once this new equipment is installed, the mayor indicates that the decision to keep the night lighting off could be reassessed.
In the department of Val-d’Oise, about forty kilometers to the north-west of the region, Thirteen of the fifteen municipalities of the agglomeration community of Val Parisis have chosen to put out the lights at night, and have done so since July 1st. Clearly: more light between 1h15 and 4h45, in Herblay or even in Franconville. The local authority is waiting “up to 26%“ less energy consumption.
Three and a half hours without light in the heart of these cities, for “limit energy consumption and contribute to the preservation of the environment” according to the agglomeration community. The grouping of municipalities invokes energy costs which are on the rise. In 2021, the agglomeration community of Val Parisis had to pay around 2 million euros public lighting side. At the same time, it is also a question for these municipalities of moving towards “reduction of the impact of its luminous park on nocturnal biodiversity“.
Like these municipalities of Val-d’Oise and Hauts-de-Seine, other French cities are gradually starting to reduce or cut public lighting at night. “Nearly 40% of municipalities in mainland France turn off their public lighting for part of the night”according a final report published by the ecological transition agency (ADEME).
