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From September 1st, a regulation will help to save electricity
Photo:
Andreas Berheide / IMAGO
With an energy saving plan, the federal government wants to reduce electricity consumption in Germany during the energy crisis.
From Thursday, various measures will come into force for six months.
Spain has already shown the way: the country's power consumption fell by almost four percent in the first week after the law came into force.
That's why the hopes are high.
"Every contribution counts," said Economics Minister Robert Habeck, who presented two regulations: a short-term list of measures from September 1st and a medium-term list that should apply from October 1st.
The Federal Council still has to approve the latter.
Private individuals
are also affected
by the short-term measures :
According to the regulation, there will be no agreements on a specific temperature in rented apartments.
However, tenants are still obliged to heat and ventilate "appropriately" in order to prevent "material damage" such as mold.
The background is that there are clauses in some rental contracts that stipulate a minimum temperature in rooms.
Private pools may no longer be heated with gas or electricity.
There is an exception for therapeutic applications.
Commercial pools are also not affected, including pools in hotels, recreational facilities or rehabilitation centers.
The information rights of customers are strengthened.
Gas and heating suppliers must provide information about energy consumption, price increases and possible savings at an early stage – at least at the beginning of the heating season.
Landlords are obliged to pass on this information.
In addition to private individuals, the ordinance is primarily aimed at
companies and public institutions
:
According to the ordinance, work rooms – both in companies and in public buildings – should only be heated up to certain maximum values: For “physically light activities that are mainly carried out while sitting” this is 19 degrees Celsius, for “physically difficult activities” twelve degrees .
In public buildings, corridors, large halls or technical rooms should no longer be heated - the exceptions are hospitals, care facilities and day-care centers.
In addition, boilers and instantaneous water heaters should not be used to prepare hot water for washing hands.
In retail, leaving shop doors and entrance systems open at all times is prohibited, unless it is an emergency exit or escape route.
The advertising industry is also affected: advertising systems may not be illuminated from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day, with the exception of illuminated advertising media, for example in passenger shelters or in railway underpasses.
The lighting of public buildings or monuments is also prohibited, with the exception of safety and emergency lighting.
This does not apply to cultural events and folk festivals.
Habeck announced the Energy Saving Ordinance in mid-August and was approved by the cabinet last week.
The EU gas emergency plan had previously come into force.
According to this, the member states should save 15 percent of gas from the beginning of August to March next year – compared to the average of the past five years of this period.
The savings target is 20 percent.
In order to achieve this, the second ordinance is intended to oblige owners to carry out a heating check on their gas heating systems over the next two years.
In the case of large buildings with a central heat supply based on natural gas, a hydraulic balance must be carried out.
This would affect residential buildings with six residential units or more.
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