Since I joined the Fundación Iberdrola five years ago as Head of the Art and Culture Division, I had the privilege of commissioning 16 lighting projects.
Each project was unique: churches, towers, mosques, buildings or bridges listed as being Sites of Cultural Interest (BIC) for their historical and artistic value. They all have something in common: the use of the most modern and sustainable lighting technology available on the market: LED technology. Before going on to describe some of these experiences, maybe I should start by clarifying what exactly LED lighting is. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) is a little chip of semiconductor material that lights up when an electric current runs through it, without producing heat or ultraviolet radiation. 
LED technology is synonymous with savings because of its low energy requirement, as it offers a 75% improvement in efficiency when compared to conventional lighting and because its long service life (50,000 hours compared to 8,000 in the case of traditional bulbs) reduces maintenance and waste production to the minimum. Lastly, as well as being energy efficient, it is environmentally friendly as it helps reduce CO2 emissions.
Going back to the projects: the most recent one, inaugurated just a few weeks ago, was the lighting for the Lions Portico at the Spanish Congress of Deputies (Lower House of Spanish Parliament). The façade now shines like never before, thanks to a meticulous design combining cold and warm white LED lights that create a soft effect enhancing the most significant architectonic elements of this 19th century Neoclassical building.
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The moment that the lights were “officially” lit for the first time was very moving, because of its relevance and because of what the building represents. Everyone was on tenterhooks, praying that everything would run smoothly, that all the lights would turn on according to the sequence that had been planned and that Murphy’s Law wouldn’t cloud the inauguration. Naturally everything went perfectly and the result was better than what anyone could have hoped for.
At times like these, I like to look at people’s faces and listen to what they say. For example, the lady that was passing by and stopped to watch the lights turn on, who exclaimed: “How wonderful! They won’t be removing them after Christmas, will they?”. Or the group of tourists that were admiring the beauty and dignity of the lions known as Daoiz and Velarde on either side of the central staircase, as they queued up to take photographs with them. 
Surprise, admiration and happiness are probably the words that best define the reaction of residents and visitors alike when they see the result of our lighting projects for the first time. I always say that anyone can set up a lighting system: all you need is a cable extension and a spotlight. However, not everyone is able to set up an artistic lighting system, avoiding glare effects and enhancing the unique details of the element in question.
Our projects are the result of thorough prior analysis with a view to proposing a solution and anticipating people’s needs, adapting the lighting to the various purposes for which it may be used, but always on the basis of respecting the integrity of the heritage and the criterion that any installation should be reversible.
Not all of the projects carried out by the Fundación Iberdrola were as important as this most recent initiative, but absolutely every one was managed with the same care and level of detail because we are aware that these structures are among the best-loved and most treasured heritage for parishioners, neighbours or visitors.
I remember the first lighting project: the Main Altar at the parish church of Campo de Peñaranda, in Salamanca, a small village with just over four hundred inhabitants. The church was full that day, with neighbours, parish priests, mayors, journalists and representatives from various levels of government, all coming together for the sake of a shared goal: heritage conservation. When the altarpiece was lit up, the whole congregation broke into a round of applause. At last the dream had come true and the altarpiece was being shown off in all its splendour. One retired resident proudly told us it was the first time he had managed to see the upper sections of the altarpiece because although they had been restored, the paintings were hard to make out.
In some cases, the lighting systems created featured changes of colour, dynamic effects and various different schedules to support the different sociocultural activities carried out at the location. For example, this was the case in the project carried out at the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz in Toledo. The technology even allows the lighting to be programmed using a computer, smartphone or tablet .
Other lighting projects worthy of mention include the Collegiate Church of Toro (Zamora), the Basilica of El Escorial (Madrid), the Oratory of San Felipe Neri (Cádiz) and the tower belonging to the Church of Santo Tomé (Toledo). Work is currently underway at the Roman Bridge in Alcántara, the parish church of El Juncal (Irún) and the bell tower of El Fadrí (Castellón), but I’ll tell you more about that some other time.
Before I sign off, I’d like to encourage you all to go for a stroll some night and gain a deeper insight into these wonderful monuments, silent witnesses to our shared history.
