Berlin dims lights on landmarks to save energy

STORY: Germans are bracing themselves for spiking energy prices and looming energy outages in the wake of the Russian war against Ukraine and EU-sanctions against Russia. Russian gas deliveries account for up to 60 percent of German industrial and private demand.

Saving energy is one way to cope with the crisis. Berlin's city administration decided to lead by example and dimmed the lights on Berlin's tourist attractions.

"Saving as much energy as possible has become very important in Europe and Germany because of the war against Ukraine and Russia's threat to cut energy. Public institutions must lead by example. We do that in Berlin by switching off the external illumination of 200 buildings," said city executive Mark Kamrad.

Electricians went to work on the fuses of the Victory Column, an old monument built in celebration of the Germany's victory in the German-French war of 1871.

The old National Gallery, the Berlin Dome and other landmarks also went dark, while other famous buildings like the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag remain lighted for security reasons. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had the exterior lighting of his residence, Bellevue Palace, turned off in May.