Lights that bring happiness

During the Christmas season a different atmosphere is felt in the city’s streets, joy takes hold of our hearts, and sharing with family and friends becomes a ritual. Since 2006, Enel - Codensa, an Enel Group Colombia company, has delivered moments of happiness to a large part of Colombian families through lighting; from the creation of environments filled with magic and fun that beautify and transform the streets, avenues and parks of cities, in unique light scenarios that are only experienced at this time of year.

DECORATING DREAMS AND EMOTIONS IN CHRISTMAS

As we get through the calendar, the illusion of Colombian families grows. The Christmas season is approaching and that means that hundreds of lights will invade the streets of the country to welcome the festivities.

Only in the country’s capital around 4 million people visit the more than 34 illuminated points of the city in the holiday season. The Christmas lighting project is a joint effort with the Mayor's Office of Bogotá and different sponsoring companies, in which we install temporary networks to protect the electric grid used by the city and the Christmas figures we build. Throughout the year, a large company team works on the design, conceptualization, development and assembly of more than 8 million lights in order to turn the cities into small magical worlds, where trees are filled with beautiful colors, parks become scenes of the most incredible stories and squares are transformed into fantastic spaces that illuminate the illusions and dreams of all by-passers.

Lighting the cities during this time of year has become a tradition, which in addition to giving much joy has fostered tourism, stimulates trade and has become an important source of employment. Only in Bogota, more than 350 people work and make possible the Christmas lighting project. This project not only supports the economy of these families, but also becomes a reason for satisfaction and pride, because due to the effort and dedication of all who are part of the Christmas lighting, happiness is delivered for over 40 days to all the families in the city.

“Through Christmas lighting, we are able to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of many people, not only those who live and enjoy this experience, but also those who make it possible.”

– Pedro Villamizar, Head of Engineering and B2B Operations Division

Other cities and municipalities in the country have also joined Enel - Codensa’s Christmas fantasy. Four cities in the national territory, including Armenia, Barrancabermeja, Ibagué, Cúcuta and Manizales; and ten municipalities of Cundinamarca such as Tabio, Tenjo, Chia, Cajicá, Ricaute, Soacha, Mosquera, Madrid, Facatativa and Girardot, have also been able to live and enjoy the decorative lights during this time. For this year specifically, projects were carried out in Usme and Soacha.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY: PART OF OUR COMMITMENT

In line with the Enel Group’s vision, and its commitment to sustainability, since 2015 all the lights used for Christmas lighting are 100% LED technology. With the implementation of this new technology, we ensure an efficient use of energy by reducing by 50% the costs associated with the consumption of energy during this time. Additionally, the use of LED technology guarantees less CO2 emissions, since no contaminating components are used in its manufacture, contributing to the environment and its preservation.

However, in addition to the use of LED technology as part of sustainable lighting, we seek to reuse most structures and employ natural fiber cabling in the assembly of all lighting. These natural fiber cables have great resistance to wind, rain and sun and their use prevents any damage to the ecosystem while anchoring the structures to trees, poles, walls, among others.

Our commitment is not only limited to the care of the environment, but also people’s safety is a priority for our company, so we make sure to protect the lives of all those who are part of this activity. During the 10 years that we have illuminated cities and municipalities, there have been no accidents at all, neither by the team responsible for the assembly and disassembly of the lighting, nor by the thousands of people and families who visit and enjoy the Christmas decoration.

WOMEN’S DEDICATION AND CREATIVITY ESSENTIAL IN THE DECORATION

To make the magic of lighting a reality, in addition to creating the design and the assembling and disassembling process, the manufacture of the structures is a fundamental part to achieve the goal of creating and generating emotions through lighting. Just as our country’s artisans weave illusions and tell stories through each of their creations, behind the manufacturing of each of the structures we install there are more than 35 women, who with dedication and patience print on each of their creations the love for what they do, the spirit of Christmas and people’s excitement to get to see in some part of the city what they built from their own hands.