The Germans called for national mobilization. Given the rise in prices and the supply difficulties that are looming next winter, the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on professionals and individuals to save energy.
Some major cities across the country have already taken the lead. Starting with Hanover, which announced that it would cut off hot water in public buildings, swimming pools, sports halls and gyms. The Lower Saxony state capital will also turn off public fountains and stop lighting large buildings at night. All these are measures that should reduce the energy consumption of the municipality by 15%.
Hannover is not the only city across the Rhine that has clamped down. During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, Berlin began to turn off the lighting of various monuments and historic buildings. Eventually some 200 iconic buildings, including the Victory Column, Charlottenburg Palace and the borough’s town hall, will no longer be illuminated at night.
“We should all seek to really save energy”
Other German cities have already reduced the temperature of the water in swimming pools or urban lighting. This is particularly the case in Augsburg, where the municipality is even considering switching off certain traffic lights.
The mayor of Augsburg, Eva Weber, estimates that her city’s energy bill should almost double from last year to €15.9 million. Through the saving measures, “we want to show the citizens of Augsburg that we can face difficult times… We all have to look to really save energy,” she told Reuters.
Leipzig, Munich and Nuremberg are also considering energy saving measures. In Dresden, a housing cooperative has decided to turn off the hot water at night in its 600 flats.
Source: BFM TV
