Saving energy in the household: This is how you can reduce your costs by a third
Created: 05/09/2022 10:29 am
By: Juliane Gutmann
Groceries, petrol, going to restaurants: inflation means that almost everything is currently becoming more expensive.
Energy costs are also rising drastically in some cases.
Noticing that money is getting tight at the end of the month?
You are not alone in this.
Low-income earners in particular are having a hard time with the current high level of inflation.
You currently get less for your money than you did a year ago.
Above all, the prices for oil and gas are currently rising.
The high energy prices can be attributed to the war in Ukraine.
As reported by Deutschlandfunk, oil and gas prices had already risen by more than a quarter a week after the war began.
Saving is therefore currently the motto of many consumers.
“
There is great potential for savings when it comes to heating, for example
,” says Jutta Gurkmann, head of the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations.
“One step less on the thermostat saves up to 20 percent energy.
Anyone who regulates their hot water from 60 to 45 degrees can save around a third,” explains Gurkmann on the website of the vzbv (Consumer Center Federal Association).
However, she does not primarily see the consumer, but rather the government as having an obligation when it comes to lowering energy costs.
A programmable radiator controller allows for controlled heating.
© Thomas Trutschel/Imago
Energy prices are rising: the consumer center sees the federal government as having an obligation
Jutta Gurkmann sees Germany's independence from Russia, which is currently the most important gas, oil and coal exporting country, as the most important solution.
In general, she advocates becoming less dependent on fossil fuels and expanding renewable energies such as wind power more quickly.
In the short term, however, it is now important to support people with little money, according to Gurkmann: "The federal government's second relief package is a step in the right direction, there are good aspects such as the "9 for 90" public transport ticket.
But it is not enough, especially for people with low incomes.
If heating costs in particular should continue to rise sharply, the federal government will have to present a third relief package
“.
The consumer advice center sees a higher heating cost subsidy as a sensible way to relieve the burden on citizens.
(jg)
