Tyrolean entrepreneur: – “Saving Christmas lights is pointless”

MK Illumination from Innsbruck is a global leader with light installations. In the “Krone” interview, CEO Klaus Mark comments on the debate on saving light in towns and villages.

“Krone”: Because of rising energy prices, department stores and Christmas markets switch off their lights earlier. How do you see this development?Klaus Mark: Basically, MK Illumination is a very sustainable company. I like the fact that you shorten off-peak times and see when you really need the light. However, it is important to look at durable products that last ten years or more in order to conserve resources. Together with the State Environmental Ombudsman, we have worked out a light code in which we describe off-peak times and where lights should be turned on. It was made long before the crisis and describes everything that is only now being implemented. Some municipalities or cities are also saving on street lighting. Do you see a safety hazard here or that the feeling of safety is decreasing? There is a clear regulation in the road traffic regulations as far as lighting is concerned. We have around one million street lighting fixtures in Austria. With 100 percent, Innsbruck is a model city when it comes to converting to LEDs. Previously one million kilowatts were consumed, now it is 400,000, i.e. 60 percent less. In addition, the light hits the road with pinpoint accuracy, which also solves the problem of light pollution. When it comes to street lighting, savings should only be made where it is really permissible. Security is more important. How high is the savings potential if, for example, the Christmas lights in Innsbruck are switched off an hour earlier? The entire city consumes 4,500 euros or 15,000 kilowatts. The savings potential is very low because we already use very little electricity. Unfortunately, the discussion being conducted here is populist and not factual. To what extent? We are in the darkest time of the year, most suicides occur, people long for light, for safety and security. And they long for Christmas. To go without light in such a situation is a serious mistake. The discussion is being conducted both incorrectly and not factually. There is savings potential in facade lighting, street lighting or interior lighting that must also be exploited. But that leads to the latest LED technology, dimming and only using the light when I really need it. Saving Christmas lights is a pointless discussion. How important is artificial light for the psyche? There are countless studies on this. Light is extremely important. It is not for nothing that there are even light therapies in the north, where it is always dark. Man is dependent on light. Candlelight, the light from the Christmas tree, the star splashes, all of this associates well-being. We have to focus on where, when and how we use it. What is the discussion about saving on lighting in other countries? Based on the sales figures, we are not feeling much of a drop in demand for our products in Asia. In the Middle East and Turkey we have doubled it. In the US, Canada and Mexico, the numbers are super positive. Joe Biden’s policy in particular, which is very sustainable, plays into our hands. We are also seeing growth in the Scandinavian countries. Only in Denmark, France and in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, note) are Christmas lights reduced or switched off or nothing new made due to the populist discussion, which also affects the numbers in these countries. But that’s whining at a very high level. Keyword sales figures: What will the balance sheet be like? We expect an increase of seven to eight compared to the previous year, in which we wrote the best result (around 140 million euros in sales, note). Percent. However, the exact figures will not be available until December 31st. However, the discussion in the DACH region is damaging to business and to us humans. That is unfortunate. What investments are planned for the coming year? We will massively promote the energy that we generate ourselves. We already have large photovoltaic systems in Slovakia, Romania and Turkey. We will continue to expand this. Investments in this regard are also planned in other countries. We are already pioneers when it comes to the product. We want to expand that further. We have not planned locations in new countries. The company is very well positioned. During the Corona period we even hired new people.
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