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Turn down the heating to counter rising energy prices: Many Germans save electricity
Photo: Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez / dpa
In the Ukraine war, energy saving was called for in view of rising prices and Russian imports.
To go easy on the wallet – and to annoy the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, as Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) recently emphasized.
And in fact many people in Germany are trying to do that.
This is the result of a survey by the digital association Bitkom, according to which every second household has been trying to use energy more consciously since the Russian invasion began.
48 percent of those surveyed said they were more aware of how they use energy - for example by using less electricity, heating less or switching to green electricity.
However, 47 percent also stated that they had left everything as it was in this regard since the beginning of the war.
The survey was already conducted in March 2022.
According to Bitkom, 16 percent of those surveyed said they had changed their energy consumption significantly, 32 percent at least slightly.
"Due to the war in Ukraine, many people are additionally motivated to save energy," explained Bitkom Executive Committee member Matthias Hartmann.
The survey also reveals a slight difference in age groups: 16-29 year olds are more likely to save energy (52 percent) than those over 65 (45 percent).
Smart meters can help
According to Bitkom, "digital tools" could help: such as WLAN or radio-controlled sockets to switch off devices completely when they are not in use, intelligent radiator thermostats or intelligent meters for electricity, gas or water.
According to the survey, 59 percent of energy savers make sure that they always switch off their devices completely.
According to this, 42 percent increasingly activate the energy-saving function on devices such as laptops or monitors, 22 percent reduce the brightness of screens.
"Even small measures that do not restrict daily comfort can make an important contribution to protecting the climate and reducing dependence on Russian energy imports," explained Hartmann.
This also includes leaving the light switched off more often or reducing hot water consumption.
40 percent of the energy savers from the survey stated that they saved hot water.
According to the survey, 90 percent of Germans are of the opinion that Germany must become independent of Russian gas as quickly as possible.
74 percent rate the pace of the energy transition as too slow.
hba/AFP
