Yunus Ulger
WALL – Germany, which does not want to stay in the cold next winter due to the shortage of natural gas, will implement a strict energy saving plan from the beginning of September. The Federal Government has decided on a broad energy saving plan that covers the public and private sectors. The plan will enter into force after it is approved by the Bundestag and the House of Representatives.
According to the Federal Government’s savings package, which plans to save 20 percent energy in the next two years, public buildings will be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees. In addition, the corridors, technical rooms and halls of public buildings will not be heated at all. There will be no heating limitation in schools, hospitals and elderly dormitories. Again, promotional and aesthetic lighting in public buildings will be terminated.
SHOP, SHOP SHOWCASE WILL NOT BE LIGHTED AT NIGHT
The biggest restriction, involving the private sector, comes to nighttime window lighting in shops, shops and other businesses. Accordingly, the showcases of these places will not be illuminated between 22 and 06. In addition, these places will not be able to keep their doors open all the time. Private pools in the houses will not be heated with natural gas and electricity. Apart from this, the Federal Government has only made a call to the public for the time being to save energy at home. The Federal Government’s austerity plan also envisages giving priority to trains carrying coal and fuel. In this case, passenger trains will wait for energy-carrying freight trains, which may lead to disruption of passenger train services.
‘A NATIONAL EFFORT IS NEEDED’
Announcing the savings plan, Federal Minister of Economy Robert Habeck said that they are at the beginning of the road in energy saving. Habeck asked for support and contribution to the energy saving plan with the words “We need to make a national effort as the state, private sector and all segments of society”. The Minister stated that with the measures they have taken so far, they have achieved energy savings of between 5 and 8 percent compared to the previous five years. He stated that his plan, which will come into effect at the beginning of September, aims to save between 2 and 2.5 percent by next March.
DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO THE ENERGY SAVING PLAN
Stefan Genth, President of the German Retailers Association (HDE), opposed the limitation of night lighting in the windows of shops, shops and other workplaces. Speaking to Funke Media Group, Genth said that they contribute to safety in cities with nighttime window lighting, thus they assume social responsibility. He argued that retail vendors contribute to energy savings by saving on heating and cooling.
The far-right Alternative Party for Germany (AfD) criticized the austerity plan on Twitter with the words “Germany is becoming a green training camp”. What is meant by “Green” here is the Green Party Federal Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck, who prepared the austerity plan. The German Environmental Protection organization (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) argued that the savings plan was a good start, but insufficient. He wanted the thermal insulation of old buildings to be accelerated in order to save more energy.
GREEN HYDROGEN AGREEMENT BETWEEN CANADA AND GERMANY
On the other hand, Germany, which wants to avoid being dependent on Russia’s natural gas, signed a green hydrogen agreement with Canada. The agreement envisions Canada’s shipment of green hydrogen to Germany from 2025. Federal Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, who is in Canada with Federal Minister of Economy Habeck and company representatives, evaluated the agreement with the words “We have raised our cooperation with Canada to a strategic level”. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the agreement as a historic step towards the future. Germany also plans to buy liquid natural gas from Canada.