The showers stay cold and the fountains are turned off: Hanover has launched a package of measures to significantly save gas and electricity. "The goal is to reduce our energy consumption by 15 percent," said Mayor Belit Onay on Wednesday. The Lower Saxony state capital wants to react to the impending gas shortage. The situation is unpredictable, emphasized the Green politician. “We see it as our responsibility here and we have to move forward. Every kilowatt hour saved protects the gas storage.”
Among other things, the room temperature in municipal buildings is limited to a maximum of 20 degrees, and a range of 10 to 15 degrees applies to technical and storage rooms. The New Town Hall, museums and other sights should no longer be illuminated in the dark. In addition, the municipal baths are no longer heated with gas. In swimming pools and outdoor pools, but also in sports halls and gyms, warm water will no longer come out of the showers. In addition, all public fountains are to be switched off.
In the event of an emergency, the city will focus on protecting critical infrastructure and particularly sensitive facilities such as nursing homes and clinics, it said. There have already been agreements with the supplier Enercity for this. The mayor assured that schools and daycare centers would continue to operate.
