Habeck makes energy-saving proposal for companies: "Fatal to heat until 11 p.m."
Created: 07/16/2022, 11:49 am
By: Bettina Menzel
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Robert Habeck (Greens) believes that even high earners will swallow because of the high energy prices (archive photo, July 8).
© IMAGO/Bernd Elmenthaler
Federal Minister of Economics Habeck considers further relief for citizens to be inevitable in view of the energy crisis.
But he also sees room for improvement when it comes to saving energy.
Berlin - Germany must stick together in the face of the looming energy crisis.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) praises the help of citizens in saving energy, but sees further savings opportunities for companies.
In view of the threat of energy prices trebling, the minister assumes that "even high earners will have to swallow", as he said in an interview with the
editorial network Germany (RND)
published on Saturday .
Gas crisis in Germany: Robert Habeck praises citizens' initiative to save energy
Habeck said that the federal government had received an enormous response from the public to the campaign for a change in energy policy as a result of the war in Ukraine.
"People send us photos, pictures and report and discuss everything they do," said the minister to the
RND
.
Gas consumption fell by around 14 percent in the first few months of this year compared to the previous year.
Partly because of the warmer weather, but also partly because of a real savings.
Habeck was grateful for this help from the citizens and at the same time assured that private households and critical infrastructure such as hospitals, old people's homes and care facilities are particularly protected in the energy crisis.
However, the Federal Minister still sees savings potential for companies.
Habeck on savings potential in companies: "Heating offices until 11 p.m. is fatal"
The Federal Minister of Economics called on companies with office space to participate in saving energy and to reconsider the previous heating practice.
"In many public buildings, full room temperature is provided from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.." The minister therefore considers a little less to be tolerable in off-peak times.
"It would be fatal to heat offices until 11 p.m. and at the same time destroy entire branches of industry," Habeck continued and at the same time criticized the frivolity with which people sometimes say "well, then we'll shut down industry".
The fact that the economy provides jobs, income and everyday goods is overlooked, the minister reminded.
"We should also think about whether it makes sense to organize company holidays over Christmas or Easter where it is possible and where production is not continuing, in order to shut down the heating systems when most people are on vacation anyway." Whole office towers on more You won't be able to afford to heat it up to 20 degrees if only three people are sitting inside.
Habeck also referred to ongoing efforts to save energy in municipalities, for example in bathrooms or air conditioning
Habeck on the threat of energy prices tripling: "Even high earners will swallow"
In view of the threat of a tripling of energy prices, Habeck assumes that the citizens will be heavily burdened.
"Even high earners swallow when they suddenly have to pay 4,500 euros a year for heating instead of 1,500," he told
RND
.
For people with medium or low incomes, these sums are simply not representable.
“The federal government must organize relief here, and that too in 2023. I am sure that the Ministry of Finance will make provisions for this.
We have a political task there, ”assured the minister, who had recently presented details on this.
also read
Ex-Merkel adviser will soon see an irrevocable advantage for Putin - "Then we no longer need to negotiate"
Putin threatens "catastrophe": Now the ordeal begins in Germany
Visits to Ukraine during the war: Politics show solidarity
View photo gallery
The government is currently preparing for all scenarios - including a complete stop to deliveries from Nord Stream 1. Habeck made it clear, however, that the allegedly missing turbine was only an excuse.
“Russia could have used almost 100 percent of the capacity of Nord Stream 1 even without this one turbine.
With the help of the Canadian government, we were able to give Russia an excuse.”
Habeck also admitted
failures in an interview with
RND .
The minister admitted that the tank discount did not work as it should.
That is why the government now wants to support people more directly in the energy crisis.
However, Habeck is behind the decision to start up the coal-fired power plants in Germany as a Green politician.
“The meaning of politics is freedom.
And if you want to protect freedom, you have to be ready to take the necessary steps."
