Icon of city's night sky going high-tech

[ErickMontreal]

Icon of city's night sky going high-tech

The Gazette

Published: 6 hours ago

 

The iconic clock atop the Molson Canada brewery tower facing downtown Montreal has gone high-tech.

 

Over the past several weeks, the neon tubing in the clock and company logo were replaced with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, providing an energy-saving source of light that is more direct as well as higher in output and lower in wattage.

 

The switch will allow Molson to save 72 per cent of its energy consumption to operate the largest functioning timepiece in the province at 13.8 metres in diameter.

 

"Our hexagonal clock in the shape of the original label for Molson Export has been an iconic figure on the Montreal landscape helping keep the tempo for neighbours for more than 50 years," said Serge Chevrier, who is responsible for its upkeep.

 

"Every year, in case of a break or during maintenance, many residents of the Ville Marie borough call us to say the Molson clock isn't working and asking when it will be functioning again," Chevrier said. "It seems the clock is essential to their daily lives."

 

Molson spokesperson Marie-Hélène Lagacé said the beermaker is swamped with calls twice a year when the time changes and the clock isn't immediately adjusted.

 

She said it takes up to 48 hours to make the necessary changes to the clock, which was built in 1950.

 

Lagacé said Molson made the change to reduce its environmental footprint. LED lights last six times longer than neon lights, yet consume only 28 per cent as much energy.

[ProposMontréal]

Ils devraient faire pareil pour le Meldrum et pour le Farine Five Roses

[Habsfan]

C'est bien de voir Molson changer les lumières sur l'horloge. C'est vrai que cette horloge est un Icon de la nuit de Montréal!