Illuminated in the evening, landmarks such as the Darmstadt Wedding Tower or the Long Ludwig create an even more attractive atmosphere than they already do.
Without the sophisticated illumination, something is missing, and every passer-by will immediately notice that.
Mathematically, the first step towards strict energy saving, which the Darmstadt task force took by switching off the outside lighting of around 30 public buildings, including the monuments mentioned, may not have brought so much on the way to reducing the city's energy consumption by one fifth to lower.
But the signal effect that is achieved with this should hardly be underestimated.
The so familiar image in the evening has suddenly disappeared.
It is possible that a signal like this could do more to move the public towards saving energy than just plausible and seriously formulated forecasts for autumn and winter.
Overall savings potential
One has to hope that the population will understand this first signal as an invitation to follow the further savings in their own households that the municipal energy supply task force set up by the Mayor of Darmstadt, Jochen Partsch, has now decided to do if possible.
A somewhat reduced room temperature, as was decided for administration buildings, can also be implemented in private without difficulty and has a significant saving effect.
Seemingly simple things like sealing older windows and doors against drafts and checking whether you really have to leave every electrical device in the house connected to the mains at the moment have considerable savings potential overall.
The decision that was made not to heat before October and only until April can also serve as a guide.
One should not overdramatize the situation, but it is good and sensible for municipalities to set a good example for the population.