Combating energy shortages
The energy situation in Switzerland is worrying, and the country could face energy shortages if measures are not taken by individuals, companies and public authorities alike.
Crans-Montana has decided to take action, and several concrete measures have been announced by the authorities for the coming winter:
Municipal roads and residential areas will no longer be lit between 23.00 and 05.30. Only those areas that already have modernised equipment, where lighting is operated by movement sensors, will be illuminated when a vehicle or person passes. The municipalities of Crans-Montana and Lens have already invested heavily in latest generation equipment in recent years. For safety reasons, the cantonal roads and central areas will still be illuminated at these times. Night owls are therefore strongly advised to take a torch with them when walking in unlit streets.
Lights on churches, public buildings, statues and other sculptures that are usually illuminated will be completely switched off.
The number of illuminated areas and the duration of the illuminations will be greatly reduced this winter. On the one hand, only the centres will be "decorated" and the number of illuminated areas will be halved. Elsewhere, Christmas lights will be switched on only on weekends in December, then every evening between 20 December 2022 and 8 January 2023, at the same times as the public lights. In addition, Crans-Montana will not be using the Ferris wheel at the Etoile Bella Lui Festival, nor will it be using the illuminated overhead lights in the main streets. However, illuminated Christmas trees and occasional projections are still planned to go ahead.
As the Ycoor ice rink is a key tourist attraction for the destination, the ice rink centre will remain open this winter. However, it has been decided to wait until temperatures are suitable to start producing ice in order to minimise the energy impact. The Ycoor ice rink already started to optimise its energy efficiency a few years ago, as the heat released during ice production is recovered by district heating.
Valais municipalities have created an energy task force, which has drawn up a series of measures to combat the energy shortage: the heating of premises, management of (hot) water, heritage lighting, Christmas lighting, public lighting and instructions for employees are all sectors that have been reviewed to achieve a substantial reduction in energy consumption, of between 10 and 40%! These measures are strictly applied by all three municipalities within the destination of Crans-Montana, as well as in all public buildings such as the intercommunal library, schools, the congress centre, the tourist office buildings etc.
In order to maximise energy saving overall, the destination is committed to informing and supporting its businesses, residents and guests in general. All of the tourism partners in the destination have been invited to turn off their shop window displays and follow the recommendations of the task force. Property managers and caretakers have been contacted in order to pass on the message to second-home residents. Residents are also being made aware of the problem. This web page also contains all the related information and documentation on the subject.
