French Embassy aids fight against climate change
By signing an ambitious Curve Breaker Agreement with the Danish Electricity Saving Trust, the French Embassy wants to send a clear signal that France is committed to tackling climate problems and supports Denmark’s efforts in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen.
20.03.2009
Electricity bill to be cut by 15%
The French Embassy has thrown itself wholeheartedly into the fight for the climate by signing an ambitious agreement with the Trust to cut its electricity bill by 15% before 2012.
Bérengère Quincy, the French Ambassador, is personally committed to the climate campaign. For example, she has taken the lead in reducing the use of the navy blue embassy cars for ferrying consuls, attachés and embassy officials round the city. ‘Following my appointment we now walk more, or cycle to meetings’ she says.
Climate Change Conference must succeed
For Bérengère Quincy the Embassy’s agreement with the Trust demonstrates that France is committed to solving climate problems. Not least of all, it is important to support the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen to ensure its success.
Difficult to save electricity in historic buildings
The Embassy’s electrical appliances and installations will be overhauled and gradually replaced. But it is difficult to make some things electrically efficient, one example being the 183 incandescent bulbs in the antique chandeliers which grace the large reception room in the Thottske Palæ on Kongens Nytorv in the heart of Copenhagen.
‘The easiest solution would be to switch to energy saving bulbs. However, using 183 of them in the antique chandeliers presents some difficulties. The energy saving bulbs we have found cannot satisfy the aesthetics required by antique decorations such as these,’ says the Ambassador.
Nonetheless, the Ambassador would like to demonstrate that it is actually possible to save energy in historic buildings. ‘My dream is to establish a network of historic buildings in Denmark – and hopefully also in France – where we can share experiences and ideas on how to tackle energy savings,’ explains the Ambassador, who is still searching for the perfect energy saving bulbs for the Thottske Palæ’s antique chandeliers.
Page last updated 20.03.2009