MK Illumination from Innsbruck is the world leader in lighting installations. In the “Krone” interview, CEO Klaus Mark comments on the debate about saving light in cities and towns.
“crown”: Due to rising energy prices, department stores and Christmas markets are turning off their lights earlier. How do you see this development?
KlausMark: MK Illumination is basically a very sustainable company. I like that you shorten the off-peak hours and see when you really need the light. However, it is important to look for sustainable products that last ten years or more to conserve resources. Together with the National Ombudsman for the Environment, we have developed a light code in which we indicate at which off-peak hours and where the lights should be switched on. It was created long before the crisis and describes everything that is only now being implemented.
Some municipalities or cities also save on street lighting. Do you see a safety risk here or is the feeling of safety declining?
There is a clear provision in the traffic regulations about lighting. We have about a 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 used, now it is 400,000, so 60 percent less. In addition, the light hits the road extremely accurately, which also solves the problem of light pollution. Savings on street lighting may only be made where it is really allowed. Safety is paramount.
How great is the saving 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 saving potential is very low because we already use very little electricity. Unfortunately, the discussion being conducted here is populist and not factual.
How?
We are in the darkest time of the year, we have the most suicides, people long for light, for safety and security. And they long for Christmas. Going without light in such a situation is a serious mistake. The discussion is both incorrect and non-factual. There is a saving 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 depends on light. Candlelight, the light of the Christmas tree, the sparkling stars, all this associates well-being. We need 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 do not notice a decrease in demand for our products in Asia. In the Middle East and Turkey, we doubled it. In the US, Canada and Mexico, the figures are super positive. Especially Joe Biden’s policy, which is very sustainable, plays into our hands. We also see 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 created because of the populist discussion, which also affects the numbers in these countries. But that’s whining at a very high level.
Keyword sales figures: How is the balance sheet?
We expect an increase of seven to eight percent compared to last year, when we achieved the best result (about 140 million euros in turnover, please note). However, the exact figures will not be available until December 31. However, the discussion in the DACH region is damaging to business and to us humans. That’s too bad.
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 expand this further. Investments in this context are also planned in other countries. We are already pioneers when it comes to the product. We want to expand that further. We have no planned locations in new countries. The company is very well positioned. During the Corona period we even hired new people.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
