Germany prepares for the energy crisis: Hanover cuts hot water and heating

Hanover cut off hot water to public buildings, swimming pools, sports halls and gyms as Russian gas cuts fuel fears of a winter energy crisis.

The city will also turn off public fountains and stop lighting large buildings at night as it aims to cut its energy consumption by 15 percent, Mayor Belit Onay tweeted.

“This is a reaction to the impending shortage of natural gas, which is a big challenge for municipalities – especially for a big city like Hanover,” said Onay.

Ziel ist es, unseren Energieverbrauch um 15 Prozent zu sken. Das ist eine Reaktion auf die hohende Gasmangellage, die eine große Erofaushaltung für die Kommunen darstellt – especially für eine Großstadt wie Hannover. (BO) https://t.co/vIVJKFiwRE

— Belit Onay (@BelitOnay) July 27, 2022

It will also reduce the hours the heating is on in council buildings from October to March, excluding daycare centers, convert all light bulbs to LEDs, ban portable air conditioners, fans or radiators and install motion detectors instead of for permanent lighting in public toilets, bicycle sheds, corridors and parking areas.

Gazprom announced on Monday that it is shutting down another turbine on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany for maintenance. The further cut meant natural gas flows, which were already operating at just 40% of capacity, fell to just 20%.

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck called the maintenance justification a “farce” and EU leaders accused the Kremlin of using state-owned Gazprom as a weapon in retaliation for Western sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Cities around Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, have introduced similar measures, including Munich, Leipzig, Cologne and Nuremberg.

Nuremberg has closed three of its four public indoor swimming pools, while outdoor pools will remain open until September 25.