Temperatures in Britain hit a record 40.3 degrees Celsius, or 104.5 Fahrenheit, this week, ending a brutal heatwave that scorched Europe and sent electricity demand soaring.
It came amid a war in Ukraine that has upended the global energy market.
The energy crisis prompted the European Union’s executive this week to ask member states to cut their gas consumption by 15 percent between now and next spring, as officials prepare for Russia to cut natural gas supplies in the coming months.
Here are some of the things states could do to curb energy demand, as well as some of the potential pitfalls:
Adjust the thermostats starting at the government buildings
Setting your air conditioner just one degree Celsius, or about two degrees Fahrenheit, warmer can reduce the amount of electricity you use by 10 percent a year, according to the International Energy Agency.
Nick Eyre, professor of energy and climate policy at Oxford University, said governments could lead by example. The public, he noted, may not respond well to politicians telling them how to live without making changes themselves.
Adjusting the thermostat lower in winter by just one degree Celsius for buildings in Europe could save up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas, equivalent to the annual gas demand of Austria.
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Extreme heat in Europe. Scientists say heat waves in Europe are increasing in frequency and intensity at a faster rate than in almost any other part of the planet, including the western United States. Global warming is one of several factors that could make Europe a heat wave hotspot.
Wind energy. Controversial plans to build a wind farm off the coast of Catalonia, a part of Spain still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, would generate urgently needed renewable energy. But critics oppose the plan, saying it would fundamentally change the character of a region that has changed little since the 20th century.
A grim assessment for Australia. A new Australian government report says the country’s environment and wildlife face even greater threats than previously recognized. Climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and mining have already contributed to drastic declines in the populations of some wildlife species.
The new life of coal plants. In the United States, defunct coal-burning power plants are finding new life as renewable energy projects, in part because they have a decades-old feature that’s becoming increasingly valuable: They’re now connected to the electric grid.
Reduce the cost of public transport
Globally, boosting public transport by making it cheaper and encouraging other transport options such as walking or cycling could save around 330,000 barrels a day of oil use, according to the IEA
This number could grow if employers simultaneously provide flexibility in working hours or allow more days of work from home.
Some countries in Europe are already doing this. Starting in June and continuing through at least August, Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national rail company, is offering unlimited public transport cards for the equivalent of about $9 a month as part of plans to cushion the effects of inflation. Ireland and Italy also reduced public transport prices for certain groups, such as young people, students and workers.
One limitation: it wouldn’t be particularly effective in rural areas that don’t have stable public transportation.
Lower speed limits and make them stick
In theory, lowering the speed limit on highways could significantly reduce fuel consumption for cars and trucks, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. A number of countries and urban areas already have speed limits in place to reduce congestion and pollution.
If highway speed limits were reduced by at least 10 kilometers per hour, or roughly 6 miles per hour, advanced economies could reduce oil demand by at least 290,000 barrels of oil per day, the report said.
In practical terms, however, it may be difficult to implement a national speed limit and get enough citizens on board to achieve significant results. The United States tried to do so in 1974 by imposing a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour on cars, buses and trucks after OPEC cut off oil supplies to the country, estimating that the limit could save 200,000 barrels gasoline per day. Several European countries have also reduced speed limits.
At the time, officials believed the cap would reduce gasoline consumption by 2.2 percent, but actual gasoline demand remained relatively flat in subsequent years. Drivers flouted the law en masse, and some states that opposed the rule handed out only modest fines of $5 to $15 to people caught speeding.
Do proper public awareness campaigns
Well-designed public awareness campaigns can motivate people to take action to reduce their own energy use, but poorly designed campaigns that don’t find the right tone and message can fail.
Some energy-saving campaigns are more successful when they emphasize how people can save money through their actions; others do better when they take an environmental approach or make moral appeals for good citizenship. In many cases, governments could take advantage of social media to tailor different messages to different audiences.
It is important not only to think about the message and how it is delivered, but also about the ambassador. If citizens do not perceive the government as a trustworthy authority, they are less likely to believe the message, says an MAE report.
The best campaigns strike a balance between urgency and agency.
“You can’t just publish information and expect people to change their behavior overnight,” said Brian Motherway, head of energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency. If you hire behavioral scientists and communications experts and take the time to create a focused campaign, he said, “you can really get it right.”
“You can find ways to engage with citizens in a way that really empowers and motivates them to act.”
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