The lights go out: Zweckverband Allgäuer Land agrees on energy saving measures

Created: 08/05/2022Updated: 08/05/2022 11:33 am

By: Matthias Matz

In order to save electricity, the lighting in Neuschwanstein Castle will remain switched off for the time being.

The Allgäuer Land association has now agreed on further measures.

©panthermedia/Gerald Bock

Füssen/district – The lights are going out in Königswinkel: the communities in the Allgäuer Land association (ZVAL) have unanimously agreed on an energy-saving package.

The lights are going out in Königswinkel: the communities in the Allgäuer Land association (ZVAL) have unanimously agreed on an energy-saving package.

The schools and churches in the ten member municipalities will probably not be able to avoid restrictions in autumn and winter either.

At least since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has been clear: due to Angela Merkel's energy transition, Germany is dependent on Russian gas supplies.

But electricity has also become a scarce and expensive commodity due to the nuclear and coal phase-out.

Both public and private households are groaning under the weight of high prices.

The electricity bill for the city of Füssen last year was 160,000 euros.

This year it will already be at least 250,000 euros, the mayor of Füssen and chairman of the association, Maximilian Eichstetter (CSU), calculated.

"And next year it won't get any better." That's why the city has already switched off the lights for the High Castle and the city wall.

In addition, there are enormous expenses for gas through the ice rink.

The total expenditure for 2019 had already been reached in May, reported Eichstetter, who assumes additional expenditure of one million euros.

In order to save electricity, gas and money, the town halls in the southern Altlandkreis have been working on plans for some time on how to save energy and thus reduce expenses (the district messenger reported).

In addition to the city of Füssen, the municipality of Schwangau has already decided on specific measures.

On Monday evening, the municipal council voted by a narrow majority to switch off the outdoor lighting in Neuschwanstein Castle by autumn.

An exception should be made on the birthday of Ludwig II on August 25th.

Furthermore, the floodlights of the "Neuschwanstein Loipe" will be switched off in winter 2022/23.

However, the snowmaking of the cross-country ski run should be retained.

Uniform approach

On Wednesday, the municipalities in the ZVAL agreed on further measures and a uniform approach - also to send a signal to the citizens, as Eichstetter and his Schwangau colleague Stefan Rinke (CSU) explained.

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Specifically, the heads of town hall who were present agreed to switch off the street lighting in the ten municipalities at 10 p.m.

So far, this has usually only been the case at 11 p.m.

In addition, the lamps should only be set to around 20 percent power when they are switched on again in the early morning hours.

In addition, depending on local and technical conditions, every second lantern in certain streets should be switched off or only one side of the street should be lit.

As an example, Eichstetter named Kemptener Strasse in Füssen, where the city has been practicing this measure for two weeks, or western Hiebeler Strasse in the “Allgäuer Land” business park.

"It will be very individual street lighting," smiled Eichstetter, looking at the different technologies and the age of the lamps.

However, these measures could definitely be worthwhile financially: the EEA are assuming cost savings of 25 percent.

Dark side streets

In Füssen, one or the other side street may also remain completely dark, as Eichstetter explained when asked.

However, safety-relevant road sections such as crossroads or dark corners remain an exception to this.

"It won't be at the expense of safety!" emphasized the association's chairman.

The group also decided to switch off the Christmas lights in their communities in the weeks from the first Advent to Epiphany this year at 10 p.m.

Here especially Dr.

Alois Kling (CSU), as representative of Pfronten's mayor Alfons Haf (Pfrontner List), pushed for a uniform solution with a view to the pre-Christmas retail campaigns.

"We stand by the Christmas lights," emphasized the association's chairman.

The churches in the ten parishes will probably also have to make their contribution to saving energy.

These are illuminated with up to four particularly energy-hungry 1000 to 1500 watt spotlights, it was said at the meeting.

Therefore, the discussion with the church representatives should now be sought.

The aim is for the churches to also switch off their lights.

The Advent season with its services up to the Epiphany should be excluded.

"The Christmas season is not up for discussion," Eichstetter summarized the mood in the group.

The Advent season is important for many people, especially in today's times.

It's getting cold in City Hall

The employees of the city and municipal administrations will feel the effects of the energy shortage this autumn and winter.

Eichstetter announced that he wanted to reduce the heating in the Füssen town hall to the technically justifiable minimum.

In addition, more employees are to be sent to the home office again in order to be able to switch off the offices completely.

"Every degree that we reduce saves a lot of money," he emphasized, referring to 70 municipal properties.

In order to drive a uniform course here as well, it should be clarified with the district and other school authorities to what extent the heating in the schools can be turned down.

Although the EU guideline is 19 degrees room temperature in the classrooms, in contrast to his Rieden colleague Andreas Haug, Eichstetter did not consider this to be justifiable.

"It's too cold." Irrespective of this, however, all caretakers of the schools under municipal sponsorship should look for further energy-saving options.

The heads of administration agreed that the room fans purchased during the Corona crisis should continue to be operated in the classrooms.

On the one hand, they would consume comparatively little electricity, and on the other hand, the corona situation would worsen again in autumn.