A decrease in Russian natural gas deliveries to Germany has forced some cities to cut hot water and ban heaters and air conditioning units. Berlin has even shut off monument spotlights to save energy.
Berlin announced that spotlights for public monuments, such as the Brandenburg Gate, would be shut off at night on Wednesday. The policy started with six buildings and will expand to affect “200 buildings and landmarks and their 1,400 spotlights over the next four weeks,” according to France 24.
While energy will be saved, labor costs won’t be, as electricians have been hired to disable the lights temporarily instead of removing them.