M'illumino di meno returns — the initiative promoted by the Radio 2 programme Caterpillar in support of energy saving and sustainable lifestyles. The events we have selected.
Is everyone ready to turn off the lights, defrost the freezer and walk to work? On 23 February, M'illumino di meno returns once again — the initiative in support of energy saving promoted by the Radio 2 programme Caterpillar. Every year since 2005, the presenters have "celebrated" the anniversary of the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol — the first treaty through which humanity attempted to combat the effects of global warming — by asking everyone for a symbolic gesture: switching off the lights and electronic devices to promote energy saving and sustainability. Since then, this genuine celebration of energy saving has increasingly involved not only ordinary people but also bodies and institutions: on the occasion, squares, monuments and historic buildings are plunged into darkness.
This year in its fourteenth edition, the event will be dedicated above all to the pleasure of walking, rediscovering a gentle, low-energy and non-polluting form of mobility. If we truly want to save the planet, we need to change our pace. The programme's presenters have decided to issue a symbolic challenge: reach the Moon on foot! Since doing so requires 555 million steps, everyone's contribution is needed. The idea is to encourage people to leave their cars and mopeds at home and walk more — not only to get to work or school: the aim is also to go for more walks, run more, do more sport and recreational activities… using their own energy rather than electrical energy. The challenge was launched on 29 January at the Arena Civica – Palazzina Appiani in Parco Sempione in Milan, in partnership with FAI – Fondo ambiente italiano, and will come to a symbolic close on the evening of 23 February.
M'illumino di meno has always been synonymous with energy saving and the promotion of sustainable technologies and best practices. This time too, a great many organisations have signed up with dedicated meetings and events, to reaffirm their commitment to limiting energy consumption from fossil sources and thereby doing a favour to both ourselves and the environment around us.
Carrefour Italia has opted for two initiatives: not only has it joined the challenge launched by Caterpillar by asking employees and customers to go on foot and donate their steps towards the symbolic walk from Earth to the Moon; it has also chosen 23 February itself as the date on which to receive, at its store in Piazzale Siena in Milan, the ISO 50001 Certification from Certiquality for the proper energy management of the entire Italian arm of the retail giant.
Through Certiquality, Carrefour attests to the actions it has taken to achieve energy saving and efficiency improvements at its head office and, above all, across its more than one thousand stores throughout the country — which have been equipped, for instance, with LED lighting, refrigeration systems that also serve for air conditioning, and closed shelving for chilled products — and commits to continuing its path towards sustainability with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 40 per cent and energy consumption by 30 per cent by 2030.
"Today the challenge is to reconcile sustainability and business needs," says Alfio Fontana, Energy Manager at Carrefour Italia. "Reducing energy consumption and improving the efficiency of our stores is not only good for the planet — it makes business sense too! That is why Carrefour has decided to invest between 6 and 8 million euros a year in this area, placing great emphasis on employee training as well, which is fundamental to achieving the goals we have set ourselves. Going forward, we will also increase our investments in renewable energy, which at present covers only 35 per cent of our consumption."
There are also various initiatives from hotels belonging to the Best Western chain, which will promote a range of sustainable best practices — from using the stairs instead of the lift to switching off unnecessary lights — at their hotels to raise guests' awareness. RED Feltrinelli, meanwhile, will dim the lights in its shops and light candles from 8.00 pm, offering customers an aperitivo featuring sustainable, energy-conscious dishes.
Among monuments and museums, in Rome the Museo nazionale etrusco di Villa Giulia and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea are taking part by switching off their façade lights; in Campania, the Ercolano excavations and the Etruscan museum of Pontecagnano have embraced the initiative. In Perugia, the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria is organising an evening guided tour by energy-saving torchlight. For the third year running, Bike Pride Fiab Torino is also joining the initiative with a new event, "M'illumino di più (in bici)" — a free ride open to everyone, to invite cyclists to "light themselves up" by fitting the lights required by the Highway Code for travelling after dark, from 6.00 pm. Several university campuses will instead be hosting the kWh Hunt: in Milan, Turin and Pisa, the university community will be switching off lights left on after hours and checking for any energy waste, commenting on the event through their own media (such as Radio Statale in Milan) and sharing it on social media with the hashtag #cacciakwh. In Sicily, the municipal administration of Catania is taking part with initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable mobility, in order to "donate" as many steps as possible to M'illumino di meno for the symbolic journey to the Moon. There are a great many events, especially from small associations and private individuals. See the full map of M'illumino di meno initiatives here. The official hashtag to follow the event on social media is #milluminodimeno.