Germany turns off night billboards / neon lights to save energy, and the association questions "it may be more expensive to do so"

CTOnews.com, September 12 (Xinhua)-- closing night advertising signs is one of the German government's energy-saving measures. Germany's newly approved directive to close outdoor advertising at night to save energy may eventually be more expensive than keeping lighting, the German newspaper Le Monde reported, citing the German Outdoor Advertising Association (FAW).

According to new regulations set by German economy Minister Robert Habeck, from September 1, lighting billboards and neon lights across Germany must be turned off at night and for most of the day (10:00 to 4 p.m.).

However, Kai-Marcus Thasler, general manager of FAW, told Le Monde that the measure would be difficult to implement.

"by far the largest part of the system affected is billboards, which have so far been equipped with automatic photosensitivity. This photosensitive control must now be replaced by electricians, and there is a timer on every sign," he said.

Thasler explained that his organization lacked the money, materials and skilled workers to carry out the work quickly, and that the lighting in the outdoor advertising system was a heat source to prevent fog and ice on the display panel.

"to prevent permanent damage, heating systems must be installed to replace lighting, but their energy requirements will be many times higher," he said.

In addition, the process of converting about 92500 lighting billboards to new standards is time-consuming and may not be completed before the ban expires in February 2023. The head of the advertising association also pointed out the potential impact on profits because billboards are "one of the most energy-efficient media".

"every euro of advertising transferred from [outdoor advertising] to other media as a result of regulation will run counter to the regulatory goal," Thasler warned, noting that "it is already clear that the technological transformation of the cost advertising media described will far exceed the savings that can be achieved in terms of energy consumption and investment required."

According to the German economy Ministry, the decree will reduce energy consumption by about 2 per cent, CTOnews.com has learned. However, the head of FAW said it was impossible to calculate the real figure because the energy consumption of billboards was a trade secret.