In new research from Compare the Market in Australia, the energy needed to power the Eiffel Tower’s twinkling light show has been compared to an assortment of electrical items to determine what else could be powered using the same amount of energy.
The 20,000 light globes on the Eiffel Tower twinkle for five minutes every hour and require 10 kilowatts (kW) every time they light up the sky for that short period of time. The lights are illuminated over 2,500 times per year, totalling around 166 hours despite such small intervals. That same amount of power could also power a range of other electronic activities, ranging from charging smart devices to running high-powered sound systems at loud performance venues.
For example, harnessing the power from the lights for just one hour could be enough to fully recharge 555 iPhone SEs. It is also enough to illuminate a red neon sign that is twice the size of the tower itself, assuming that it consumes the regular four watts per foot of sign. If this were to happen, the sign would be 2,500 feet high.
Other things that could be powered by the power of the Eiffel Tower’s lights include a PA system that boasts 10,000W of power, inspired by the 1972 performance at London’s Rainbow Theatre by group Deep Purple, whose performance made the Guinness Book of World Records for being the loudest concert of all time. The sound reached as high as 117 decibels and was loud enough that it left three unfortunate patrons unconscious.
Ever fancied a cup of coffee? How does 14,000 cups sound? Well, 10kW is enough to do just that. The power harnessed by the Eiffel Tower’s lights in a five-minute period is enough to brew one cup of coffee every day for the next 39 years, one three a day for 13 years.
The infographic pictured here lists more examples of what could be powered by the lights. To get more information on the calculations used, you can visit this page: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/energy/eiffel-tower-power/
