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Subscribe to RSSMost of Berlin's gaslights, those distinctive street jewels that have spread a gentle golden glow for more than a century-and-a-half, are set to be removed. NBC's Andy Eckardt reports
BERLIN — As a capital city, Berlin has endured more than its fair share of division over the years. Now new battle lines are being drawn over what some see as a fight for the city's character.
The conflict began when City Hall announced its intention to phase out the vast majority of Berlin's historic gas lamps as part of an ambitious project to make the city carbon-neutral by 2050.
With nearly 43,000 gas-powered streetlights, Berlin has more than any other city in the world. In fact, more than one in six in the city are gas.
Some date back to the 19th century; others were erected immediately after World War II as the occupying Soviet forces made restoring light to the devastated city a priority.
In recent years, guided tours have been run to picturesque areas, with sightseers attracted by the distinctive warm, yellowish glow of gas lamps.
Pollution, expense
Think Beacon Hill in Boston or San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter — but on a much larger scale — and cue the outrage.
But with annual running costs for fuel and maintenance as much as $700 for some lamp models, and carbon dioxide emissions almost ten times that of an equivalent electric light, there are now strong financial and environmental incentives to replace gas with electric alternatives.
Pete Jeary/NBC News
With nearly 43,000 gas-powered street lamps, Berlin has more than any other town or city in the world.
The city's current modernization program (link in German) will see 8,000 highway lamps, mostly dating from the early 1950s, replaced with new electric lights.
City authorities say the figures speak for themselves.
The energy used by those 8,000 gas lamps could power 100,000 electric lights. And replacing them would cut energy costs by 90 percent, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 9,200 tons per year and save a chunk of the $1.6 million spent each year just on replacement gas mantles.
Petra Rohland, spokeswoman for Berlin's Department of Urban Development, said the current refit would be complete by end of 2016 — and would recoup the cost within nine years.
All but a few of the city's gas-powered lamps will eventually go.
"Five percent of the historic gas lights, especially the candelabra, will be kept as originals in the future," Rohland said.
'Knock down the Brandenburg Gate'
It's a future that fills some Berliners like Paul Harrison with dread.
Harrison is a member of a growing band of preservation societies who oppose the wholesale replacement of gas lights.
He challenges the environmental and financial arguments put forward by the city to justify the changes.
Futuristic highway glows in the dark, reports the weather
"If we're just talking about saving money, we could knock down the Brandenburg Gate," he said ironically. "After all, that costs a lot to keep going, to keep clean."
Harrison's group, Gaslight Culture, is calling for the dismantling to be suspended - and for talks between all interested parties.
Pete Jeary/NBC News
Annual running costs for a gas-powered lamp can be as much as $700, and CO2 emissions almost ten times that of an equivalent electric light.
"We haven't started to explore the possibilities, such as different forms of financing or even sponsorship of streets or districts," he said.
Harrison deplored what he described as “the rejection of a working system.” And the replacement LEDs would be “prohibitively expensive” and “far from convincing” as alternatives.
'A living light'
Such rejection of new technology would be a disappointment to Andre Braun, who has spent years developing LED illumination that mimics the color of gas light (in German).
For Braun, whose workshop is on the same site as the former Berlin gas plant where his father once worked, the search for the perfect replacement is nothing short of a crusade.
Glowing plastic lets you make light bulbs in any shape
The way he talks about working with gas is reminiscent of how a fisherman might talk of the sea.
"It's so very difficult to work with," Braun said. "The extremes of temperature make it a constant battle ... unlike electricity, which is a dead light, gas gives a living light. But that's tough to recreate in an LED."
"Some people think I'm crazy to spend all this time trying to replicate the look of the gas lamp," he said. "But they are beautiful; gas lights have no glare, you can look right into them."
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My bet is on Andre Braun--and if he can develop an LED bulb that mimics gas light, more power to him.
why can't they retro fitted with bulbs that give the gas light effect - ?
It isn't mine or our choice. It's their city to choose. But lights can be installed that have the same warm glow while eliminating carbon emission. It's the best choice.
Evrytime a gas light goes out, Al Gore makes another buck. Please everyone please stop worrying about the carbon footprint! It is meaningless and a waste of vauable time. Al GOre has made more out of this game than any human on earth. It is all bull crap and it preys upon the uneducated masses (Or ones that have recently come out of the system of brain washing.) In the sixties we had smog, air pollution and water pollution, we had rivers on fire and towns that never saw the light of day. Fifty years later much of this has gone away except in China and India. So if you are worried about the carbon footprint, do the world a favor and swallow a bullet quietly at home and do your part.
... said the retard.
Oh my dog, you're like a monkey, masturbating and smearing it all over himself so people will laugh and toss coins. Here's a penny! Do it again!
You do know -god that Al Gore is a major investor and a chairman of a company that is responsible for carbon credits. To use you colorful term "who the retard" now
Why, you, of course! What a retarded question!
So he's running a company that's trying to make the world a better place and getting paid for it.
And you think that's bad?
YOU the retard now, young lady. LOL!!!! jesus, you're another masturbating monkey... are you maddogs sister?
Carbon footprint---Proof that PT Barnum was right
And you're proof that ol' PT was an optimist. The tea party would have been a wet dream for him.
If the Germany women can or won't shave their underarms or legs, why would you want lights to see that nasty mess? Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ???
My mother is from Berlin and I have been several times. I have family there. The lamps are simply magical and unlike anywhere else you have gone. Having them simply in one neighborhood, like Boston or Charleston, SC, really does not provide the same historical charm and mystique, as the way they are scattered throughout Berlin. It simply becomes a local attraction when consolidated into one neighborhood, rather than a reflection of the overall historical charm and new world innovation contrasts that draws international tourists today.
No one is visiting for the lamps, but the contrasts between old/new Berlin is one of the most unique and will surely see a lost with elimination of so many of these lamps.
That being said, the impact on the environment would be minimal. It already is a city leading in many ways from an environmental standpoint. I do support the need for environmental awareness, but I do believe a retrofit or perhaps updating the gas systems to run on a single lower polluting standard, rather than electricity may be possible without losing the lighting and effect only gas lamps have on Berlin.
At what point do aesthetics and the simple beauty of a thing get outweighed by the 'facts'? And why can't some of these environmentalist freaks just give it a rest? Do we really want to live in such a sterile environment, bereft of things like these gas lamps, simply to exist? Is it worth it? And puh-leeze, don't give me the crap argument about 'saving energy'. Have you ever watched the overhead shots of an NFL game? Do you see how ANY nearby stadium or building is lit up like a Christmas tree, burning millions of watts of power for...nothing? When a city like Berlin has something of this heritage and wonder and a draw for millions of inhabitants and tourists, all arguments go out the window.
Leave the lights, please.
Carbon dioxide. Plant food. The period of time in which the Earth was the most green and lush was called the Carboniferous. All plant life on Earth was able to make use of abundant CO2 in the air to grow faster and stronger. Plants are also more water efficient and more drought tolerant with more CO2.
Today with CO2 levels rising parts of the Sahara desert are once again turning green.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2012/jun/26jun2012a1.html
http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/08/01/earth-still-absorbing-co2-even-emissions-rise-says-new-cu-led-study
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/07/24/back-to-the-future-paradise-lost-or-paradise-regained/
... and the earth gets hotter.
Venus also has plenty of CO². Not so many plants, though.
And neither will the Sahara, without water.
Hey Killer, there's a polar bear at the door who wants to ask you about where his ice went. Something about greenhouse gasses building up and the Arctic Ocean being ice free enough to allow navigation in, well, EVER.
The Einsteins didn't realize that lanterns that old generally do not separate from poles that old very willingly. When attempting to retrofit, they will most likely find that the pieces have bonded with time. Either they will have to destroy the lantern and replace it anew or may wind up having to replace the entire assembly, pole and all. There's a reason for the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". In this case, it applies to metals that have corroded and have become joined as one. That's if they don't simply start disintegrating when they try to take the tops off. Been there, done that.
Its a drop in the bucket compared to all the carbon emissions coming from China, India, S America etc. I bet the real reason the German Gov't want to replace them to save the money is so it can go to their broke social programs......like paying for all the immigrants housing, utilities, medical care etc etc
Tell me, what color is the sky on your planet? Germany is a lot better off than we are.
Well, here's a point that's being overlooked; when the power goes down, gas lights still provide illumination. About 25 years ago, I owned, for a few years, a small house, which had previously had a gas lamp installed in front of it. Although the lamp itself was trashed, I was able to find a replacement, and since the gas line and pole were still in good shape, all I needed was a couple of spare mantles from my camping lantern to get it going. That light burned - day and night - for two years straight, and it only cost me about $2 per month for the gas. I remember when we had a weekend snowfall of about a foot (unusual for Portland), and as a result, large areas of the city were without power, including my neighborhood. After sunset, the ONLY light visible for as far as I could see in any direction, was my front yard gaslight! It not only made the house easy to find, but actually provided enough ambient light for us to get by in the front room, without the need for a flashlight. You also have to balance the cost, with the aesthetic effect. How much history will be lost when those gas lights are trashed, in favor of the new LED "flavor"? Not worth it, I say.
Wow, they list about a half dozen reasons for replacing the gas lamps with one of the biggies being one gas lamp can cost $700 a year just in maintenance and the only thing the tea party whackos can hear is the brief mention of the emissions from the lamps. They looked at a whole series of benefits, reduced operating costs, reduced maintenance costs, higher safety, better lighting and reduced emissions. They've planned to leave the original gas lamps in appropriate areas to keep the atmosphere and even developed a new LED lamp to emulate the gas flame in other areas. Sounds like solid thinking to me, a real win-win. But of course if you even *consider* the environment then the TP'ers have to rant and rave about it. Must be really fun to live around. "Honey, I got the new SUV, it's bigger and has more comfortable seats and extra cargo space and gets 10% better gas mileage so it's better for the environment." "WHAT?!! Better for the environment?! Take it back!"
Enviro-nazis now running Berlin.
Perhaps we should leave it up to the Berliners.
Replace the $700/year gas light with CFLs that use $3/year in electricity, produces more light, and also reduces the city's carbon footprint? Or keep using the $700/year in gas because you hate all of this "global warming" nonsense? Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Something else to whine about....wah wah wah! Like who really cares.
I'm a little confused here..I'm assuming that the "gas" that the lights burn on is natural gas..The same natural gas that is being push so hard here in the U.s. as a clean alternative to coal..Its supposed to cut pollution by 10 fold..That abundant, clean burning natural gas..But it Germany it seem to be just the opposite..10 times MORE carbon dioxide emissions than a comparable electric light..Wonder what they use energy wise to produce electricity?..Is it natural gas, the same thing that powers the lights to begin with, or coal, or nuclear..
Seems like we're being fed a pile of horse $hit by this administration as far as natural gas goes..It CANT burn that clean here and that dirty there..
Our President Obama thinks we can violate the Laws of Thermodynamics by switching one fuel for another and expecting to get the same amount of heat but, miraculously, with less carbon dioxide. It's all a big sham to get the Carbon Tax going so the United Nations can be funded with what amounts to a global tax. Can you say, "New World Order"?
I can say "New World Order" but choose not to..right now...Today..Politicians are the most crooked that they have EVER been in my lifetime..They cant work together within their own parties much less work across the isle to try and help us find a solution to our SPENDING problem..NOW, we have to decimate an entire industry{coal}and literally put THOUSANDS of hard working men and women out of work, just so the Agenda of a carbon free world{which is like you said..a SHAM} can be once again cram-bed down the publics throat..How touching..
The Carbon Footprint is such NONESENSE. If you want to do something about your "carbon footprint" plant some TREES and stop having so many BABIES.
Google them then go to images. Who wouldn't miss something as nice as that?
There is NO such thing as global warming, one's "carbon footprint" means nothing at all, except to marxist environmentalists....SOOO, unless gas costs A LOT more than the alternative, there is no reason to change them.
Andre Braun has some nifty LEDS. Yes, there is always someone with a hand outstretched behind such calls for progress. Berlin no longer has any manufacturing to speak of, and is excessively reliant upon tourism and its service sector. It has been noted as the poverty capital of Germany during the past decade. If Berlin were not Germany's capital city, its situation would be far worse.
Read my story below....LED's do not cut it....it's the warmth of the glow of gas lamps which will be missed, current technology of LED lights present you with a very cool, as in chilly glow....inexpensive ? Yes...appealing ? NO.
Folks who have posted here about "simply refitting" these gas lamps with LEDs or regular electric bulbs are clueless. The beauty is in the warm glow of the gas flames or mantels, which cannot be replicated with electric lights.
Here is an interesting personal story about gas-lamps.....I was a child who grew up in a working class neighborhood of Boston, a city which was settled in 1630.
We had 110 year old gas lamps in my neighborhood, back in the 1950's,and a lamplighter would walk down the street each day,late in the afternoon,and he would stop at every lamp, lift the glass globe onto a hook atop the pole,and light the gas-mantle, which is a sort of woven asbestos fabric, with a lighted wick, then he lowered the glass-globe, and moved on along the street, leaving the neighborhood after lighting every streetlight.It was a warm glowing light.
These 160 year old street lights were all over old Boston, and they added a lot of charm to the city, where the American Revolution was born. Then, in the late 1950's, a mayor of Boston sent crews onto the venerable Beacon Hill neighborhood, and replaced every antique gas light in that area, with sparkling new,and very bright and tall electric lights. Stunned, is how those residents felt about the loss of these links to the past........BUT in my working class neighborhood, the folks were very upset that the wealthiest neighborhood got the new electric lights..."Hey, how come the rich folks get new lights and we still have these ancient gas lights !? What are ya gonna do for us poor folks ?!
Well, the mayor reacted wisely and quickly...he sent crews to Beacon Hill to pull out the new electric lights and crews to my neighborhood to pull out our antique gas lights, which were then sent to and installed on Beacon Hill, and we got the electric ( new ) lights. A Solomonic decision.
Both neighborhoods were satisfied,and both neighborhoods are very safe to walk through at night,as Boston is a very safe city,and I now live on Beacon Hill, where my street is lighted with old gas lamps which I once looked out upon in a different neighborhood of old Boston,in 1955.
Welcome to the 21st century, Berlin!
Oh, they were indeed beautiful... But I can understand why there is a need for change. If they could keep the same fixtures and replace the source of power in them, it would do just as well. People should not be so attached to the past as to loose common sense about what's practical and beneficial.... Seeing the old streets covered with snow and gas lanterns brings flood of memories!