Controlled temperatures, public lighting, telecommuting or industrial interruptions are the main axes to take on reality when Russia decides to turn off the tap
“That light… turn it off!” Never has this expression of parents made so much sense amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on the economy. The European Union is far from being able to completely disconnect supplies from Moscow. It is the conclusion in Brussels where, in the middle of summer and with several heat waves spread across the Old Continent, those responsible are already aware of the harsh winter that the economy could endure if it does nothing from this moment on. And acting is saving energy. Because Europe has almost no gas or oil. Delivery is not guaranteed. And any unexpected austerity could destroy the entire EU in a matter of days.
The energy saving plan goes through measures in public administration, industry, companies and each of the homes. Actions that have already been performed at other times or that can be performed to control energy consumption.
houses
-The optimal average temperature for a house to be insulated without consuming more energy than necessary, according to the IDAE, would be:
Summer (Air Conditioning) Between 21 and 23 degrees
Winter (Heating) Between 23 and 25 degrees
– Install thermostats that regulate the temperature. If they are not programmable, so much the better, as the savings are between 8% and 13%.
-Ventilating the house for 15 minutes a day is usually sufficient to refresh the air.
-Choosing the category with the lowest consumption is always profitable in the long run. The minimum must be class A+.
-Turn off devices when not in use and do not leave them in “standby mode” or “standby”.
-Use the ECO modes of all devices whenever possible. They will work longer, but they save energy because their work is not as powerful.
Business and industry
– Promote telecommuting. The experts, as well as the European Commission, point to the need to exceptionally regulate remote work, at least for the coming weeks or months, in order to prevent more journeys by private vehicle to the workplace and thus fuel consumption. .
-Planned shutdowns of activity in the factories. Spain already has a mechanism (the so-called capacity auctions) whereby the industry receives financial compensation in exchange for a closure of a few hours or several days a week. The aim is to reduce energy consumption to meet household demand.
Public scope
-The administration is already working on a plan to determine and rationalize the switch-on and switch-off times for air conditioning, lighting and office equipment. In addition, the electrical power contracted in these homes will be reviewed.
-Installation of photovoltaic panels for self-consumption in public buildings and infrastructures is also promoted.
-Outdoor lighting in buildings, monuments, parks, gardens or roads is optimised, with regulation of the switch-on and switch-off times and the light level in those areas.
-During the last energy crisis, which brought the oil price to $140 a barrel of Brent in 2008, the government approved a new speed limit on highways, which was lowered from 120 to 110 kilometers per hour in order to drive more efficiently and reduce fuel consumption.
Even in the middle of 2008, the then Minister of Industry, Miguel Sebastián, and the President of Congress, José Bono, got into an argument over the tie controversy. Sebastián sent a thermometer to Bono to measure the temperature of the hemisphere and warned him that he would only wear a tie when the summer was over. He urged him to raise the congressional temperature in the air conditioners to spend less, and advised him to take off his tie so as not to get so hot.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
