Eiffel Tower cuts twinkling time to save energy

The Eiffel Tower seen at night in Paris March 11, 2008.

PARIS (Reuters) - The Eiffel Tower is cutting down on its display of sparkling lights to set an example of energy saving, its management said Friday.

The Eiffel Tower has twinkled for 10 minutes every hour on the hour during the evening since January 2000.

Now, to reinforce the message that energy must be saved for environmental reasons, the tower will sparkle for just five minutes every hour.

The tower's managers said the measure was mostly symbolic, as the 20,000 flashing light bulbs that produce the twinkling effect consume relatively little energy.

The 300-meter (984-foot) tower is France's most recognizable monument. It has become a popular activity for tourists to gather during the evening on bridges and squares to watch the spectacle.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Angus MacSwan)