Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The operator of Brussels’ public transportation network STIB/MIVB plans to lower lighting in 20 out of 69 metro stations and pre-metro stations for Earth Hour on Saturday, 22 March, at 20:30 as part of a WWF environmental awareness effort to black out the world for an hour.
The STIB/MIVB public transport authority in Brussels will lower illumination in 20 stations among its 69 metro and pre-metro stations on Saturday, March 22nd at 8:30 PM during Earth Hour organised by WWF. The symbolic reduction of lighting serves to highlight both climate emergency awareness and decrease electrical usage. The lights are scheduled to dim on Saturday, March 22nd, at 20:30, which will conserve 470 kWh worth of power, equivalent to lighting each month 1.6 Brussels homes while still maintaining adequate passenger visibility.
STIB/MIVB has established different measures to decrease its energy usage while minimising ecological impact. The company has started a comprehensive plan to install intelligent LED lighting systems at all public transport stations.
The upgrades at Jacques Brel and Midi stations are already finished, and Delta and Osseghem/Ossegem and Parc/Park stations will undergo these improvements throughout this year. The total number of stations using LED lighting stands at 38 with complete equipment, while 20 stations possess partial LED lights, and 11 stations still operate with traditional fixtures. The operator predicts it will reach 74% LED lamp illumination of station surface areas by 2027.
The symbolic campaign will save around 470 kWh – equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption of around 1.6 Brussels households,
the operator said. There will still be enough light to provide passengers with sufficient visibility.
STIB/MIVB plans to achieve a 13.2% improvement in energy efficiency ratings of its vehicles and buildings between 2018 and 2023, followed by another 1.9% enhancement from 2023 to 2024. The operator made a partnership deal with Aspiravi which will bring savings between €4 million to €7 million across five years.
The adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles at 400 units alongside 37 units since 2018 has resulted in substantial decreases in diesel fuel use and carbon pollution. The Malmö City Transport network will acquire 106 electric buses by 2026, while eCitaro articulated buses in service on lines 46, 53, and 89 give the appearance of a total of 24 vehicles.
What is the history behind STIB/MIVB’s Earth Hour initiative?
STIB/MIVB, the public transit company operating in Brussels, operates 69 metro stations together with pre-metro stations, which stay illuminated throughout the daytime hours from dawn until midnight every day. To achieve its sustainability objectives, the operator conducts deliberate installations of an efficient LED lighting system, which has reached 38 stations completely upgraded and 20 stations partially transformed, but 11 stations have not received any LED implementation yet.
The target is to achieve illumination of 74% of station surfaces with LEDs before 2027. The transportation network plans to improve Jacques Brel and Midi stations during 2024 before proceeding with Delta and Osseghem/Ossegem and Parc/Park stations between 2024 and 2027.
STIB/MIVB will shift toward cleaner transportation by operating 400 hybrid and 37 electric buses starting in 2018, which will decrease both diesel consumption and pollution rates. The transit company will add 106 electric buses to its fleet before 2026 while operating 24 eCitaro articulated buses starting from today. The operator achieved a 13.2% rise in energy performance from 2018 to 2023 and plans to increase it by another 1.9% in 2024.
Through its collaboration with Aspiravi, the operator expects to achieve between €4 million and €7 million in savings over five years.
Such sustainability initiatives support Brussels’ environmental objectives because riding public transportation produces one-quarter of the carbon footprint that driving creates, thus demonstrating why eco-friendly transportation remains a vital solution for climate and traffic issues.
