(Dan Tri) – People in German cities have to take many measures to save electricity, amid the gas crisis and growing concerns about the risk of Russia completely cutting off gas supplies.
Tourists have fun on the beach on hot days in Hohwacht, Hohwachterbucht, Germany (Photo: AFP).
According to the Guardian, cities in Germany are turning off lights at public monuments, turning off water fountains and using cold showers at city swimming pools and sports arenas, as the country
Hanover, in northwestern Germany, on July 27 became the first major city to announce energy-saving measures, including turning off the hot water in showers and bathrooms of buildings and leisure centres.
Municipal buildings in the state capital of Lower Saxony will only be heated from October 1 to March 31, at room temperatures not exceeding 20⁰C, and the use of air conditioning equipment will be prohibited.
`The situation is unpredictable. Every kilowatt hour counts and protecting critical infrastructure must be a priority,` said the city’s mayor, Belit Onay, of the Green party.
Hanover’s 15% savings target is in line with cuts that the European Commission (EC) this week urged member states to make to ensure they can cope in the event of Russian cuts.
The pressure is heavy on Germany
The fountain system in Augsburg is turned off to save energy (Photo: NYT).
Germany, which is more dependent on Russian gas imports than other European countries, is under the greatest pressure.
Before the war in Ukraine, with more than half of its gas supply coming from Moscow, cheap Russian gas was the foundation for Germany’s powerful industry.
Therefore, not only Hanover, the capital Berlin, about 200 historical relics and government buildings also have to turn off their lights early to save electricity.
`Faced with the Ukraine conflict and energy threats from Russia, it is important that we handle our situation as carefully as possible,` said Berlin’s environment MP Bettina Jarasch
The city of Munich, southern Germany, announced this week that it would turn off the lights on the city hall on Marienplatz square, which is usually lit until 11 p.m. and has cold water only at city offices.
The same goes for the city of Augsburg in the state of Bavaria.
Mr. Wolfgang Hubschle, economic adviser in the city of Augsburg, said he now has the additional task of calculating which traffic lights to turn off, how to reduce the temperature in offices and swimming pools, and even if necessary,
Germany uses most of its imported gas to heat homes and power its large industry.
But while the energy emergency plan launched in June allows utilities to pass on high gas prices to customers, most private households in Germany pay their gas bills
On July 28, the German government confirmed that it will collect a planned gas surcharge on customers that could be much higher than previously expected, to save energy companies from the risk of bankruptcy in the coming months.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said: `We cannot yet say how much prices will increase in November, but unfortunately it is certain that each household will have to pay a few hundred euros more.`
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