Turn off fountains, turn off traffic lights: Bavarian city fights energy crisis with drastic measures 

Created: 07/07/2022, 09:25

By: Tanja Kipke

The city of Augsburg is reacting to the rising energy prices.

© dpa/Stefan Puchner/Marcus Brandt (merkur.de collage)

Augsburg reacts to rising energy prices.

And with drastic measures.

“The situation is serious,” says the mayor.

Augsburg – "Due to current events, we are all required to save energy - including the city of Augsburg." In a statement, the city makes it clear how serious the situation is.

According to calculations by the city, the annual costs for electricity, natural gas, district heating and other energy services would increase by almost 80 percent for the current year 2022.

"The rude awakening comes at the latest with the settlement," the mayor Eva Weber is quoted as saying.

The city of Augsburg has therefore identified short and medium-term options for saving energy.

The first measures have already been implemented.

They also affect citizens.

Because of rising energy prices: Augsburg reacts drastically

"Basically, the less energy - including electricity - is consumed, the less gas is needed." Measures have been developed with the city administration that, viewed individually, appear to be relatively small, but collectively result in some savings potential.

Short-term urban measures that are implemented immediately include the following:

• Façade lighting on historic buildings such as the town hall, Perlach, administration building, Jakobertor, Vogeltor, cathedral, St. Ulrich, open-air theater and the municipal museums will be switched off. 

• Three monumental fountains of the UNESCO World Heritage are still in operation daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

  Other fountains - including, according to the city, significant "energy guzzlers" - are switched off completely.

• The magic lights in the botanical garden, which were announced weekly until mid-August, have been cancelled.

• Water temperatures in outdoor pools will be reduced by another degree (except in the children's pools).

  The showers are also affected.

• Street lighting will be dimmed from now on.

"Not only the city administration, but every Augsburg resident and every company can contribute to saving energy in their own environment and in their own area," says Weber.

“In view of the current energy supply situation, it is simply a matter of reducing consumption in order to save energy.

And in all areas.”

In Saxony, the first housing cooperatives are even saving on hot water because of the energy crisis.

Municipalities in the Munich region currently know how to help each other in other ways.

Augsburg is taking action because of the energy crisis: even traffic lights are to be switched off

In addition to the measures that can already be implemented, the city of Augsburg is planning even more.

One is currently in contact with the police as to which traffic lights are relevant to safety and which can be switched off.

In the case of medium-term urban measures, the following have been agreed:

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• Wherever possible, room temperatures in municipal buildings are reduced in autumn and winter. 

• Water and shower temperatures should also be reduced by one to two degrees in the indoor pools.

• The administration creates a checklist for energy-saving options for the schools.

  In addition, old kitchen appliances have already been replaced with energy-saving versions at eleven schools in Augsburg.

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Video: When showering and Co.: Three simple tips to save energy

City of Augsburg calls on all citizens to save energy

The city also wants to start generating its own electricity by installing photovoltaic systems.

With regard to internal administrative options, the city is currently examining which municipal departments can only be reached to a very limited extent over the Christmas holidays, for example.

Entire building complexes could be shut down energetically through effective room management.

In order to really make a difference, the city calls on everyone to take responsibility: "All Augsburg residents are called upon to save energy."

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