The ongoing energy shortage is having major effects on daily life in Europe.
Key Details
- European countries are cracking down on energy consumption and public energy usage.
- German cities are facing severe heating, air conditioning, and water usage restrictions.
- “The German city of Hanover has turned off the heating and switched to cold showers in all public buildings because of the Russian gas crisis,” says BBC.
- “Cities in Germany are switching off spotlights on public monuments, turning off fountains, and imposing cold showers on municipal swimming pools and sports halls,” says The Guardian.
- The Eiffel Tower in Paris is having its light turned off earlier at 11:45 pm rather than 1 am.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez encouraged politicians to avoid warm suits and ties to reduce the need for air conditioning, saying, “I don’t wear a tie, that means that we can all also save from an energy point of view.”
Why it’s important
The European Union has agreed to reduce energy consumption by 15% this year to reduce energy dependence on Russia. The reduction though has required strong reductions in energy consumption by the populace.
Multiple European countries have placed severe restrictions on air conditioning and heating in public and private buildings. Spain, which is enduring one of its worst summers in recent memory, isn’t allowed to turn air conditioning above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Italian city of Milan has similarly restricted air conditioning to remain above 78 degrees Faherheit to conserve energy, and other regions of Europe have followed their lead.
“Municipal buildings in the Lower Saxony state capital will only be heated from 1 October to 31 March, at no more than 20 degrees C (68F) room temperature, and ban the use of mobile air conditioning units and fan heaters,” says The Guardian.
Backing up a bit
As we previously reported, Europe is facing an energy crisis due to reduced gas and natural gas flow from Russia, which is threatening rolling blackouts and power outages this winter. European leaders thus far have failed to create effective solutions to the crisis.
The crisis has caused energy prices to skyrocket in the short term and subsequently increased inflation as Europe is pushed to the breaking point.
Possible solutions
Some of the populace have attempted to step up and help. One event in Warsaw, Poland allowed moviegoers to help power a screening of the movie Knives Out on a peddle bike that generated half of the energy necessary to project the film.
“The initiative is part of a series set up by services company Impel that has toured Polish cities this summer, with the aim of encouraging Poles to think about more environmentally-friendly ways of living,” says Reuters.