Heating is being throttled, hot water is only available by the hour – in the past few days such reports have been running across the screens of many citizens. Do we have to freeze in our own apartment in winter?
First of all, it is important to take a deep breath: In Germany, private households belong to the so-called protected customer groups. That means: The state will be the last to turn off the heating. It is almost impossible that this will happen at all.
Nevertheless, tabloid media, individual politicians and concerned citizens are already falling into panic mode, stoking uncertainty and fear by conjuring up the image of the freezing population. That is, to put it briefly, irresponsible.
A particular point of contention: the residential construction group Vonovia wants to limit the gas heating of its tenants to 17 degrees at night at the beginning of the heating period in order to save energy. The indignation is great. Even the Federal Environment Agency recommends lowering the room temperature in living and working rooms to down to 15 degrees and in the bedroom to down to 17 degrees at night.
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Of course, this is an encroachment on the personal freedom of the individual. And it doesn’t have to be compulsorily ordered by the landlord. But anyone who complains about such measures has not understood that each individual bears a responsibility these days. A war is raging in Europe that is costing countless lives and endangering the freedom of all of us. This freedom must be defended through the effort of everyone. To do this, it is necessary to free oneself from dependence on Russia. And that is only possible if we use less energy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is demonstrating his power by massively shutting down the gas supply to Germany and Europe. It is not yet possible to foresee what consequences this will have for the Federal Republic. Whether it can even make it through the winter without rationing for the industry.
That’s why the following applies: now save as much gas as possible so that the damage in winter is as small as necessary. And everyone has to make their contribution. Anyone who stirs up panic instead of appealing to reason and responsibility is playing into Putin’s hands.
The latest figures show that many have not yet understood the seriousness of the situation: while industry is consuming noticeably less energy, little has changed for household customers so far. That needs to change. Everyone should save as much as they can. Otherwise, 17 degrees in the bedroom next winter will be our smallest problem. Catherine Witsch
Cons: Freedom at least in the shower
Germany is increasingly becoming a leviathan in terms of energy policy; a monster of mythical proportions, as described by the philosopher Thomas Hobbes. During the Corona crisis, Germans inevitably accepted the strong and protective state. Now you should be ashamed if you take a shower for more than five minutes in view of the energy crisis. In any case, the Federal Minister of Economics has significantly reduced his shower times since the beginning of the war, as he told the citizens, whether they wanted to know or not.
To accuse Robert Habeck of political folklore would be too cheap. But with all understanding for the energy-saving tips: Everyone should still be able to decide for themselves how long they stand in the shower. You have to be willing to pay the price for it.
Since Germany’s largest housing group announced that it would turn down the heating in many of its apartments at night, things have become very concrete for many people in the country. Vonovia is a company that has to prove itself in the market. If the group wants to save gas, there is basically nothing wrong with that. If the tenant wants it to be warmer at night, he can turn on a mobile heater powered by electricity, which means he has to dig deeper into his pocket. But one thing should also be remembered: Germans like to save. Citizens are willing to give up anyway.
On the other hand: outdoor pools do not have to be heated to 28 degrees and theaters do not have to be illuminated. Even a large bakery does not have to offer the complete range until the evening. But citizens do not like to sit in a cold living room. Habeck and Vonovia should therefore sit down together and avoid rigid interventions in private life. Without social peace in the country, things are going badly for politics and the economy.
But the opposite threatens: The economy minister’s appeals for austerity could, as he says, “if necessary” become legal measures to save energy. Even though we’re in a war economy, we don’t want to walk around in Mao smocks because the textile industry is running out of energy. As Ludwig Erhard put it, politics must be moderate. Not just the energy consumer.
Habeck never tires of emphasizing that every kilowatt hour counts. If the topic comes to the continued operation of the three nuclear power plants that are still connected to the grid, the Green politician closes. It’s better to take a quick shower than mess with the party base. That would be really uncomfortable – but only for him. Thomas Sigmund
More: Cold withdrawal of Russian gas: Germany is threatened with an emergency winter