In order to become less dependent on Russia’s gas supplies, EU countries should reduce their consumption by 15 percent. Some countries are pushing ahead – and some are adopting tough energy-saving measures.
Last week, the energy ministers of the European Union met in Brussels to discuss a common way out of the gas crisis caused by Russia. The result: an emergency plan that provides for a 15 percent reduction in gas consumption. Although this goal is voluntary and not mandatory for every EU country, according to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it should be a “decisive step” to “counter Putin’s threat of a complete gas shutdown”.
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While some countries are still hesitant to actually implement the austerity measures, other states are pushing ahead with strict regulations. For example, the Spanish government has announced that it wants to show solidarity with the rest of Europe and has launched a remarkable energy-saving program. The federal government, on the other hand, has so far shied away from defining nationwide measures.
In our overview you can find out which (sometimes strange) energy saving methods our neighboring countries use and what Germany can still learn from them:
The Spanish government announced on Monday a comprehensive program with which it intends to combat the gas crisis. Although the country only gets around ten percent of its gas supplies from Russia, Madrid passed a strict electricity-saving law: public buildings, cinemas, workplaces and hotels may not be cooled below 27 degrees in summer. In winter, on the other hand, the maximum temperature to which they can be heated is just 19 degrees.
All lighting that is not absolutely necessary is switched off after 10 p.m. In addition, more employees are to be sent to work from home in order to curb energy consumption in office buildings. Stores with automatic doors must keep them closed to prevent the escape of warm or cool air depending on the season.
The Greek government wants to launch a 640 million euro subsidy program to improve energy efficiency in public buildings. Until this can be implemented, employees are asked to switch to the home office.
Important: After work, the computer should be switched off to save electricity. To help other countries save energy, the Greek Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, recently invited European pensioners to spend the winter in his country and thus curb domestic heating costs.
In France, the government around President Emmanuel Macron is relying on climate control in public buildings and a ban on illuminated advertising between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. In addition, the ministry responsible is calling on the French population to help save electricity. People should wash their plates and cups by hand if possible, and the dishwasher should only be used once a day. In addition, televisions and WiFi routers should be switched off when not in use.
The same strict climate regulation for public buildings has been in force in Italy since May 1: in summer, no cooling below 27 degrees, in winter, heating to a maximum of 19 degrees. In addition, sights and landmarks should no longer be illuminated at night in the future.
In the event of non-compliance with the power-saving measures, the Italian government wants to take tough action: Violations will be punished with fines of up to 3,000 euros.
Things are less strict in Belgium: Here, rewards are used instead of punishment. If you want to implement construction projects in the future, you should use efficient materials whenever possible. Anyone who uses solar collectors, heat pumps and the like will be rewarded with a reduction in VAT from the original 21 percent to six percent. The reduced tax rate also applies to construction services such as demolition and renovation work.
Although Germany is one of the countries in Europe that has been hit hardest by Russia’s gas supply games, the federal government is still hesitant to actually implement the austerity measures. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) announced that he wanted to meet the EU target of 15 percent or even expand it to 20 percent. Despite this, there is still no law setting out nationwide measures.
So far, the plan is to no longer heat rooms in which people stay for a short period of time in winter. In addition, there should no longer be a minimum temperature for radiators in rented apartments, and gas heating systems should be subjected to a mandatory functional test in the future.
Because these cautious proposed solutions (for an unprecedented gas crisis) are not enough for many municipalities and cities, some of them are now enforcing their own energy-saving regulations. In Berlin, for example, around 200 sights are no longer illuminated at night, and Kaiserslautern will in future only heat public buildings to a maximum of 17 degrees on cold days.
