Germany should save energy in winter. German citizens are threatened with restrictions. Especially in everyday life, many people in Germany have to adapt. FOCUS online says where changes are pending for September 1st.
In order to save energy, special energy-saving rules apply from September and for half a year. It shouldn’t stay that way. A second package of measures should take effect from October 1st.
And next year, homeowners will be required by law to operate their gas heating systems more efficiently. A hydraulic balance is then mandatory for all gas customers.
From September 1st, public buildings may only be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees. This applies, for example, to town halls, museums, cinemas, theatres, event locations, restaurants, bars, hotels, supermarkets, discounters, department stores, furniture stores, hairdressers, hardware stores, drugstores, fitness studios, office, administration and court buildings.
If it gets colder outside and you want to go shopping, to work or to the cinema, then you should definitely dress warmly.
Public buildings and monuments must turn off their outdoor lighting from 10 p.m. This also applies to shop windows or buildings that are illuminated for purely aesthetic reasons. An exception only applies if the lighting is installed for safety reasons. This applies, for example, to marking escape routes and roads.
Neon signs and billboards must also be switched off after 10 p.m.
When shopping, the shop doors will probably open and close faster. In department stores and all other public buildings, the entrance doors may no longer be permanently open in the autumn and winter months. As a result, room heat should not fizzle out.
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However, municipalities and cities could reduce the duration – for example by 30 minutes. As FOCUS learned online, the lights could not be switched on before, but directly after dark.
From September 1st, a maximum room temperature of 19 degrees will apply in the workplace.
Minimum temperatures in work rooms are regulated in Germany in a so-called technical rule for workplaces. According to this, the minimum values of the air temperature are between 12 and 20 degrees, depending on the difficulty of the work. The 12 degrees apply to heavy physical work.
Values of 17 to 20 degrees apply for less heavy work. In break, standby, sanitary, canteen and first-aid rooms, the temperature must be at least 21 degrees during the period of use.
The new regulation only changes the minimum temperature in workplaces that were previously heated to over 20 degrees. A guide value of 19 degrees Celsius applies here.
Yes, daycare centers, schools, retirement and nursing homes, clinics, medical practices and hospitals will continue to be heated as they have always been. You are not affected by the Energy Saving Act.
There is no need for German citizens to be afraid of cold water at the washbasin or in the showers in public buildings.
If the hot water is heated centrally, the temperature only has to be lowered from September 1st. Specifically, so far that no legionella can form in drinking water. At least a lukewarm shower is then possible.
If your rental contract states that you must maintain a minimum temperature in the living space, this is suspended for the next six months. From autumn onwards, tenants will no longer have to turn on the heating if they don’t want to.
The clause on the minimum temperature in the apartment is intended to protect against cold and mold in the living areas, for example.
In return, the landlord must continue to guarantee a minimum temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius in winter.
Not clear.
Since July, more and more municipal utilities nationwide have either closed their swimming pools completely or only blocked the heated pools. It is possible that fitness studios, hotels and other public buildings with swimming pools could follow. In principle, it is true that companies with a very high energy consumption must be written to directly by the supplier and asked to save energy.
This might have an impact on sauna areas.
From September 1st, there will only be concrete restrictions for private swimming pools. The new law stipulates that private pools can no longer be heated with gas and electricity.
