Advisors, NGOs urge consumers to save fossil fuels through behaviour changes

Several German NGOs and government advisors have published lists of measures that could reduce Germany’s use of fossil fuels, especially in people’s homes and in the transport sector. The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) estimates that around ten percent of Russian gas could be saved by lowering room temperatures by two degrees Celsius in all German residential and non-residential buildings and by installing energy-saving shower heads. By reducing the speed limit on motorways to 100 km/h and to 80 km/h on other overland roads, 2.1 billion litres of fossil fuels (3.8 percent of fuel consumed in the transport sector) could be saved – at the same time saving between 3.5 and 4.2 billion euros and 5.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents, the UBA calculated.

Environmental Action Germany (DUH) also suggested 15 measures to the German government to quickly reduce oil and gas consumption. The NGO warned against simply passing on responsibility to consumers and demanded, for example, an immediate ban on fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings, increased subsidies for renovation and heat pumps in existing buildings, solar PV panels on public buildings, a speed limit and the introduction of a cheap, nation-wide annual “climate ticket” for public transport as well as a ban on short-haul flights.

An alliance of 20 industry and environmental associations announced that it would support public appeals for energy savings, the use of renewable energies and simple technical measures that would reduce gas demand in the short term.