This week, UK temperatures reached a record 40.3 degrees Celsius, or 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit, curbing the brutal heat waves that burned Europe and boosted electricity demand.
It was in the midst of a war in Ukraine that disrupted the world’s energy markets.
Due to the energy crisis, European Union executives will cut gas consumption by 15% this week from now until next spring as Russia prepares to cut its natural gas supply to member states in the coming months. I requested.
Here are some of the things countries can do to curb energy demand and some of the potential pitfalls.
Adjust the thermostat, starting with the government building
Setting the air conditioner to 1 degree Celsius and about 2 degrees Fahrenheit can reduce annual electricity usage by 10% when it gets warmer. According to the International Energy Agency..
Nick Air, a professor of energy and climate policy at Oxford University, said the government could set an example. He said the general public may not respond well to politicians telling them how to live without change on their own.
In European buildings, the thermostat can be adjusted 1 degree Celsius lower in winter. Save 10 billion cubic meters of gasCorresponds to Austria’s annual gas demand.
The heat wave of the world this week
A hot and miserable summer. It was a cruel week in some parts of the world that were not built due to extreme heat, as Europe was hit by soaring temperatures and wildfires. Some US states have broken heat records set in dust bowls. Let’s see what happened.
Reduce public transport costs
Around the world, encouraging public transport by making it cheaper and encouraging other mobility options such as walking and cycling can save about 330,000 barrels of oil per day. According to the IEA..
The number can increase as employers simultaneously provide flexibility in working hours or allow more telecommuting days.
Some European countries have already done this. Deutsche Bahn’s Deutsche Bahn offers unlimited public transport passes worth about $ 9 a month from June to at least August as part of a plan to mitigate the effects of inflation. Ireland and Italy have also reduced public transport fares for certain groups of young adults, students and workers.
One limitation: not particularly effective in rural areas where public transport is inadequate.
Decrease the speed limit and make it stick
Theoretically, lowering the speed limit on the highway can significantly reduce fuel consumption in cars and trucks. Report from the International Energy Agency.. Many countries and cities already have speed limits set to reduce congestion and pollution.
According to the report, developed countries could reduce oil demand by at least 290,000 barrels per day if highway speed limits were reduced by 10 kilometers per hour, or about 6 miles per hour.
But as a practical matter, it can be difficult to enforce national speed limits and embark enough citizens to achieve significant results. The United States tried it in 1974 and introduced a domestic speed limit of 55 mph for cars, buses and trucks after OPEC cut oil supplies to the country. It is estimated that this limit will save 200,000 barrels of gasoline per day. Speed limits have also been reduced in some European countries.
At the time, authorities believed that this restriction would reduce gasoline consumption by 2.2%, but actual gasoline demand remained relatively flat for the next few years. Drivers widely ignored the law, and some states that opposed the rule imposed only minor fines of $ 5 to $ 15 on those arrested for speeding.
Do the public outreach campaign correctly
Well-designed awareness campaigns can motivate people to take steps to reduce their energy use, but poorly designed campaigns fail when they can’t find the right tone and message. There is likely to be.
Some energy-saving campaigns are more successful when they emphasize how people save money on their actions. Others work better if they take an environmental approach or make a moral appeal for good citizenship. Governments often use social media to tailor different messages to different audiences.
It’s important to think about the messenger as well as the message and how it is conveyed. If citizens do not recognize the government as a credible authority, they are less likely to believe the message, According to the IEA report..
The best campaign balances urgency and agency.
Brian Motherway, Head of Energy Efficiency at the International Energy Agency, said: If you hire a behavioral scientist or a communications expert and take the time to design a deliberate campaign, he said, “I can really understand it right.”
“You can find ways to engage with citizens in ways that really empower and motivate them to act.”