Faced with the climate emergency and the rise in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, the countries of the European Union are preparing to save money and reduce their consumption in anticipation of winter.
In Belgium, the government wishes to support the most precarious
The Belgian federal government first initiated measures aimed at the less wealthy households, with in particular a reduction in VAT on gas and electricity. The latter has been capped at 6% since April. A cap that has been renewed. There is also a social tariff for domestic energy for the most vulnerable households. Some taxes on petroleum products have been lowered and train ticket prices are capped. A measure intended in particular to reduce the carbon footprint in a country very dependent on the automobile.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says the next five to ten winters will be difficult. It meets Wednesday, August 31 a consultation committee to consider new measures with the regions of the kingdom. The government is in particular in favor of capping energy prices, although some argue here that capping gas prices can only scare off potential suppliers. The solution can therefore only go through an agreement at European level, say several ministers, including that of energy. She endorses the idea of decoupling put forward by France ten months ago and believes that energy prices should not be aligned with the price of gas, because electricity is currently produced at a lower cost. .
Belgium has given up on closing its two nuclear power plants as planned. The Netherlands, for their part, decided to triple their capacities. They go from one to three plants in the next few years. The Dutch also took initially symbolic measures, asking to limit showers to five minutes and heating to 19 C° at home. Structural measures are also put in place, with consumption limits requested from the largest industrial consumers, with also partly compulsory investments in energy savings.
In Greece, the population is aware and is doing its part
Beyond the climate challenge, Greece is three-quarters dependent on Russian gas for heating. The Conservative government has launched several operations to save energy. On the one hand, the announced disbursement of an envelope of 640 million euros could go up to one billion, to insulate the country’s public buildings. This ranges from insulating walls to replacing traditional public lighting with LED lamps powered by mini solar panels. Without forgetting the installation of a dark plastic film on the windows to limit energy loss. This operation, called Electre, aims to save 10% energy over one year.
The government is also sensitizing the population, by multiplying calls via the media to enjoin not to use the air conditioning permanently, and not to set the ambient temperature above 27°C. For the winter, we ask not to exceed 19°C. This is Operation Thermostat. This summer, Greeks were encouraged to trade in their old energy-guzzling household appliances for free for new, more efficient ones. And grants are given to homeowners to insulate their property. What mainly deters households are the staggering electricity bills. They often exceed the rent, so the air conditioners run much less than usual. We turn off the lights on the terraces and for hot water, we use more and more solar panels.
In Spain, an energy saving plan is already in force
The Spanish government had its energy saving plan voted on last week, but already in force since August 10th. No more than 27°C for air conditioning in administrations, shops, cultural establishments, stations, airports. And this winter, the heating will not be able to go beyond 19°C in these same buildings. Shop windows and lights in public buildings must go out at 10 p.m. Air-conditioned buildings have until September 30 to adopt an automatic closing system, except for health centers, schools, hairdressing salons and public transport. With this energy saving plan in force until November 1, 2023, fines can range from 60,000 to 100 million euros.
The Spanish government and its allies do not intend to stop there. For example, the Basque nationalist party calls for changing consumption patterns and abandoning fossil fuels. The Catalan separatists are calling for a regional fund for companies that must adapt their infrastructures to energy efficiency. This is only the beginning of a long process to arrive at a law, wanted by the government and which could come into force before Christmas according to the newspaper El País.