Federal Council opposes ban on shop window lighting at night
A broadly supported motion in the National Council wants to ban the illumination of shop windows and advertising at night. The Federal Council is against a national ban, but can imagine obliging the cantons to introduce new regulations.
This is what the national government writes in its response to a motion by National Councilor Christophe Clivaz (Greens/VS) published on Thursday. Clivaz and 26 council colleagues want to establish a national ban on lighting with the possibility of exceptions. This would reduce energy waste and spare the environment from unnecessary glare.
Currently, only a few municipalities have issued regulations restricting or banning nighttime illumination of shop windows and advertising. The Federal Council writes that a possible ban is not within its competence.
If the motion were to be accepted in the National Council, however, the Federal Council said it could envisage mandating the cantons with new regulations on the night-time illumination of shop windows and neon signs (sda).
