N.Torres/G.Gulesserian/N.Chijeb
The traditional Christmas lighting, essential not only as a mere decorative measure for these endearing dates, but as an incentive aimed at boosting local commerce, has this year the harsh conditioning factor of the current economic situation, with the almost incessant trickle of the rise in prices, which is having repercussions especially in the energy field.
DIARIO DE AVISOS has wanted to collate how the municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants of Tenerife, which are those that allocate the greatest economic resources to festive lighting, are dealing with this situation, taking into account, in addition, that the Ministry of Ecological Transition itself has recommended to the institutions the implementation of palliative measures to save energy. Thus, in this context of economic uncertainty, the initiatives to promote savings in Christmas lighting on the Island, which in some localities are already being placed for lighting in November, continue and increase trends already developed in previous years, such as the case of the commitment to LED lights, which are low consumption, and also to implement time limitations for the first time. Of course, in those municipalities in which Christmas lighting is linked to public lighting, it is not possible to do so because all the lighting would be turned off, except in areas where they are not connected.
The capital of Tenerife, La Laguna, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz and Granadilla put a stop to Christmas lighting in the early morning hours, while the rest of the municipalities argue that it is not possible to implement this measure because the festive lighting is linked to the general , and it is not possible to turn it off partially. In fact, there are municipalities that, in order to alleviate this situation, are studying acquiring timers in order to reduce the lighting hours of Christmas structures. Likewise, in some cases, such as in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the points of light are increased -mostly led-, but in contrast, as has already been pointed out, the lighting is turned off earlier than in other years.
At two in the morning. That is the time that the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has set to turn off the Christmas lights as an energy saving measure. Until now, the lights remained on throughout the night, turning on with street lighting and turning off with it. In this way, according to the Councilor for Public Services of the City Council, Carlos Tarife, “about five hours” are saved. However, the number of light points throughout the municipality has been increased, so that the total investment in Christmas lighting amounts to approximately 780,000 euros. “It is the largest investment in decorative elements that has been made by the City Council in recent years,” he asserts. Altogether, a total of 1,228 motifs and arches, 51,830 meters of garlands and 59 floor elements will shine in the city. In relation to the lights placed last year, 207 arches were installed, 908 Christmas motifs on the lampposts, 29,000 meters of garlands and 90 meters of tunnels, with approximately 30,000 LEDs. The investment then was just over 300,000 euros.
Among the measures taken by the City Council of The lagoon To promote energy saving during the Christmas holidays, there is a daily switch-off, starting at 01:30 am, of the lights in the historic center, as well as in places in the municipality where Christmas motifs are not connected to the public lighting network. The Consistory continues to renovate all the lights with state-of-the-art LED technology, which considerably reduces consumption and reduces light pollution. This year around 3,000 LED motifs will be installed in Aguere in the streets of the municipality, for 2,800 motifs located in 2021. All the lights are LED technology, emphasizes the Laguna City Council. On the other hand, this year a small town of Christmas cabins will be installed in the historic center, which will be equipped with a photovoltaic solar energy system and electrical energy storage, “in order to teach and raise awareness among citizens, mainly minors, of the importance of energy efficiency, showing how a clean and non-polluting energy generation system works, which favor the preservation of the environment”, indicate the municipal sources consulted, who emphasize that these “innovative decorative elements will suppose a zero cost for the City Council of La Laguna, given that all this material is provided as part of the improvement of the contract by the concessionaire of the public lighting maintenance service, Effico”.
THE NORTH
The municipalities with the largest population in the north of Tenerife opt for LED lighting to save energy in Christmas lighting, and have required it in the tender documents. The commitment of Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, Los Realejos, Tacoronte and Icod de los Vinos is prior to the current energy crisis and represents significant savings for the municipal coffers. Only the municipalities of Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava will limit the lighting hours. In this first municipality, the largest elements and central squares, precisely in the areas where the most energy consumption occurs, will remain on until one in the morning, thus reducing consumption by a significant percentage, the municipal government remarks. In the rest, the Christmas lighting will be left to, in addition, serve as reinforcement for the usual public lighting. On weekends, from Friday to Sunday, due to the hospitality and leisure activity offered by Puerto de la Cruz, the lighting of these Christmas motifs will be maintained at night.
La Orotava also considers it important to maintain Christmas lighting and decorations, since it is also a way of supporting the commercial sector. Thus, the decision to put it on from November 25 for six hours, from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., has been agreed upon with the business sector and with neighborhood associations of the municipality. At midnight 90% of the clock-controlled archery will be turned off. The eve of Three Kings Day is the only night that the lights will remain on until dawn. This year’s Christmas decoration, which is also LED, began to be installed in the neighborhoods in September so that everything is ready by the end of November.
For his part, the mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, specifies that the City Council issued the tender for the new festive lighting competition in July, which includes Christmas lighting and the requirement that has been set is the placement of LED lights . “It guarantees us that consumption is practically nil and, therefore, the electricity bill, a measure that will be extended to the coming years”, he adds. However, González clarifies that most city councils have encountered the difficulty of needing a second parallel line for festive lighting, given that none of them are prepared, with which, “restricting the schedule would mean placing a timer or a clock in each piece of lighting and that entails a tender that is impossible due to the times”. In the case of Los Realejos, the installation of the Christmas lights began three weeks ago in order to turn it on in November.
The Tacoronte City Council does not have a specific plan, although two years ago the supply contest was changed, which has led to almost 20% savings in lighting bills. Likewise, with the installation of LED lighting, incorporated for the second consecutive year, around 15% will be saved and, as a complementary measure, “there will be a reduction in the lighting elements on public roads that will be imperceptible to the public, but that yes it will affect to the energetic saving”, point from the municipal Government. The City Council of Icod de los Vinos is carrying out energy efficiency programs in accordance with the new requirements and will surely adopt measures for Christmas lighting in the award of the service that will close shortly, according to reports. “It is not closed yet. but we do contemplate it, although we know that a municipality with commercial potential, like Icod, is more attractive when it is illuminated”, says the mayor, Francis González. “One of the measures that is being considered is that there be a power-on that lasts less time and turns off earlier than expected. But it is not yet closed, given that the commercial field must be reconciled with the current situation, ”adds the president.
THE SOUTH
In the south of Tenerife, the Christmas lighting will not differ much from what was experienced last year, among other reasons, they wield, because those Christmas lights and decorations catch the current of public lighting and differentiating it is not an easy task. Only Adeje has studied the possibility of doing so with the acquisition of timers.
Adeje has had LED technology for Christmas lighting for several years. The number of light structures, including figures and light cords, amounts to 600 pieces. Until now, LED lighting was connected to public lighting, so it turned on and off automatically when it did. The City Council is currently working on the acquisition of timers with the aim of reducing the lighting hours of the Christmas structures, since there is no other method to reduce the hours. The technical team together with the company has evaluated and dimensioned the project and it is estimated that the Consistory will have to acquire approximately 500 timer units.
Another of the energy saving measures in Adeje refers to the duration of street lighting. Usually, the Christmas lighting lasted a month and a half and this year it will be reduced to one month, from December 9 until the Three Kings celebration.
In Arona, the Christmas lights will be placed with the public lighting and will be on all night, as they cannot be differentiated from one another, at no added cost, since since last year the Aronero Consistory replaced all the Christmas lights with low-power LEDs. consumption. The number of decorations and light bulbs is maintained.
The Granadilla de Abona City Council indicates that the budget initially planned for this year was 200,000 euros, but it will be reduced by half, to 100,000 euros, so energy consumption will be reduced, in addition to the fact that the lighting will be LED type , and those elements with the highest consumption will be disconnected after 00:00. The Christmas lighting will be concentrated in the commercial areas of the centers to promote and support the revitalization and local commerce.
In Candelaria, on the other hand, the budget for Christmas lighting is similar to that of previous years. In this regard, as in past editions, it is committed to energy saving by using LED lights. There is no possibility of turning off the Christmas lights at a certain time because it is associated with public lighting and if it is turned off, it would also turn off. The measure can be made in areas that do not depend on public lighting, such as the tree in the Plaza de la Patrona de Canarias.
In Güímar, all the Christmas lighting material will be this new year, all LED, and will focus only on shopping areas and neighborhood squares, being lit just like public lighting. The campaign will last one month.
In Guía de Isora, all the centers will have different Christmas motifs, with state-of-the-art LEDs and very low consumption. Energy saving has been applied since 2021 and this year a similar line of energy saving will continue with the LED system that the City Council of Guía de Isora has been betting on for five years.
Finally, San Miguel de Abona will reduce the number of points with Christmas lighting and will place the lights in more strategic places.
