Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - The churches in North Rhine-Westphalia are also taking austerity measures during the Christmas season due to increased electricity and gas prices. Municipalities in the Archdiocese of Cologne, for example, developed their own ideas in many places, said a spokeswoman. This includes switching off large heaters for entire buildings and using heated seats on the pews instead. In relation to this, about 95 percent of the energy is saved. A prototype is already in use in the St. Mariä Himmelfahrt Church in Cologne's old town.
"Oversized" Christmas lights should also be avoided. "However, since Christmas - especially in the dark season and in the current times of crisis - is also a festival of hope, chains of lights that are very economical in terms of energy consumption, for example, can still be installed in clearly visible places," said the archdiocese.
A joint catalog of proposals had already been published by the dioceses in North Rhine-Westphalia in September. Specifically, it is recommended that the churches be kept at a maximum temperature of five degrees Celsius. A temperature of around ten degrees Celsius has been usual up to now. However, the decisive factor for the good preservation of equipment such as furniture and art objects is less the temperature than the humidity, which should not exceed 70 percent. There are specific ventilation instructions for this.
The evangelical churches in Westphalia and the Rhineland have also passed on such recommendations for action to their congregations. Among other things, you have set up a digital exchange of ideas on the subject of saving energy. "It is intended for information and networking for and by church communities - from practice for practice," said a spokeswoman.
