Germany switches digital signs off at night to save energy

The German government has ordered that analogue and digital out-of-home advertising spaces, as well as digital signage (displays and LEDs) in shop windows and neon letters on facades, must remain switched off between 10pm and 6am.

The ruling comes into force on 24 August, as part of a series of measures intended to prevent an energy shortage from September, according to Invidis Consulting.

The EU’s gas emergency plan came into force this month, under which member countries have to save 15% on gas. Germany has a self-imposed target of 20%.

The measures come less than three weeks after Spanish shops and government offices were required to turn off digital signage displays and lighting after 10 pm, as part of the country’s commitment to reducing its gas consumption by 7%.

Last month, Hanover, in Germany, became the first major European city to switch off hot water in public building, as part of a plan to cut energy consumption by 15% ahead of the expected gas shortage this winter. Sports halls and gyms have been asked to limit heating to 15C, while the outdoor lighting of public buildings, museums and monuments has been switched off.

In Berlin, the heating has been turned down in 200 public buildings, and landmarks such as Berlin Cathedral and the Berlin Victory Column are not being illuminated. In the Bavarian city of Augsburg, the council has lowered the temperature in its public pools, while in Mainz and Weimar, street lighting has been switched off at certain times.