Oktoberfest goes green in the Hippodrom

Beer tent reduces CO₂ by the equivalent of 600,000 1-liter beer mugs using 550 energy-efficient Osram LED lamps

When millions of visitors start streaming into the world’s biggest fair from September 22 to October 7, attention will center not only on good cheer, but also on the environment. While the Hippodrom is not the largest of the Oktoberfest beer tents, its commitment to the environment is all the greater: By replacing 550 incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient Osram LED lamps, the venue will be reducing CO₂ emissions by some 1.2 tons at the Oktoberfest.

A total of 550 warm-white LED lamps from Munich-based Osram will be putting visitors, food and beverages in the right light and helping the environment at the Hippodrom’s 110^th anniversary this year. Instead of 25 watts like the incandescent bulbs used before, the new lamps need only 5 watts of power to achieve the same brightness, meaning they will save 2,500 kWh of electricity during the 16-day Oktoberfest, equivalent to 1.2 tons or over 600,000 liters CO₂. “Together with Osram, we are making the Oktoberfest a little bit greener. We would like to show that even when you’re celebrating, you shouldn’t forget the environment. At the same time, we want to demonstrate our support of efforts to achieve a more sustainable Oktoberfest,” explains Sepp Krätz, operator and host of the Hippodrom. The warm-white light demonstrates perfectly that energy-efficient lighting does not have to mean compromising on a cozy atmosphere. It produces a pleasant, welcoming setting, inviting guests to sway to the music and celebrate.

All good things come in threes – and more!

After the Hacker beer tent in 2007 and the Löwenbräu tent last year, the Hippodrom is the third Oktoberfest venue to switch to energy-efficient lighting from Osram and make an important contribution to the environment. And more are to follow: “We are very pleased that the Hippodrom, one of the most well-known beer tents, decided to switch to an energy-saving lighting concept. Naturally our goal is to have all the beer tents illuminated in energy-efficient lighting in a few years, so that the Oktoberfest is good for both visitors and the environment,” says Klaus-Günter Vennemann, Osram’s CEO of General Lighting.