Energy Efficiency Project Reduces Consumption by 18%
Tara Trueb
As part of the cantonal target agreement with Basel-Stadt, the energy consumption at Art Basel in Basel was reduced by an impressive 18% in 2024—equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 72 four-person households. This achievement was made possible through close collaboration between our Buildings and Operations teams of Messe Basel and IWB (Industrielle Werke Basel).
The savings were achieved through targeted process optimizations. Ventilation and air conditioning systems were gradually activated only towards the end of the setup phase, while lighting was reduced by several hours each day during the build-up. Even during the event, systems operated in a reduced mode, particularly at night. Operating parameters were continuously adjusted to actual demand. While this required additional effort, it led to even greater energy savings.
Setting New Standards for Our Events
The successful measures implemented at Art Basel 2024 are now being extended to other events and will be integrated across the entire MCH Group event portfolio. A key element of these optimizations is the adjustment of electricity billing: instead of a flat rate, electricity consumption is now billed based on actual usage. This new policy also applies to the internal billing of MCH Group-organized events, directly transferring responsibility for energy consumption to individual event organizers.
To enhance transparency, improved metering systems are being introduced to precisely track electricity consumption by sector. Additionally, the Operations team, together with IWB energy consultants, is supporting the optimal management of energy use. Large-scale MCH Group events will continue to be closely coordinated with IWB to continuously optimize energy consumption and identify new savings potential.
