Europe is reviewing an energy-saving plan aimed at preparing for a cold winter in the face of potential disruptions to gas supplies from Russia to the 27-member bloc. The idea is to raise public awareness about the need to curb energy use and to encourage practical actions that help conserve gas, such as lowering heating levels and drying laundry outdoors when possible.
The proposal was submitted in midweek by the European Commission. It calls for a 15% reduction in EU gas consumption between 1 August and 31 March in line with supply-security regulations. The plan does not include ration cards for households that are classified as protected consumers, a designation used to shield the most vulnerable from energy cuts.
Private households are described as the groups that would be least affected by famine or large-scale supply interruptions, provided no unforeseen events materialize. They would not face direct consequences from Russia’s heavier cuts, at least initially.
Nevertheless, the Community Executive emphasizes that it is important to motivate households across the EU to participate in energy-saving practices. Brushed examples outline turning down the heating, raising thermostat settings on air conditioners, air-drying clothes, switching off unnecessary lights, and improving home insulation whenever feasible.
Households and other protected consumers would continue to be safeguarded, yet they can also contribute to lowering gas consumption, according to remarks by the first vice president of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, at a press briefing presenting the plan. The emphasis remains on shared responsibility and practical steps people can implement without sacrificing safety or essential comfort, as noted in official statements attrib’d to the Commission.
Do we need to run the air conditioner at 20 degrees?
Timmermans was asked whether it is necessary to keep lights on in empty office buildings or stores overnight and whether air conditioning should be maintained at 20 degrees or higher. The response was that reducing temperature in such settings would lower energy use, even if it comes at a temporary dip in comfort. The aim is clear: smaller, collective changes yield meaningful savings.
He acknowledged the policy would not be easy but stressed the opportunity to influence outcomes if action begins now. Individual choices, when made together, can produce substantial results, including the potential to reduce annual gas consumption by significant amounts when heating is kept modest in homes and workplaces.
The commission described the plan as a guide to “save gas for a safe winter,” urging Member States to organize public information campaigns that highlight the issue and foster greater public awareness about energy-saving measures. The initiative also supports the EU’s energy-saving communique, which outlines a range of short-term savings options that can be adopted across sectors.
Officials note that public authorities and other public-sector buildings may be required to implement reductions in heating and cooling. The plan envisions a coordinated effort across Member States to promote responsible energy use and to provide practical recommendations tailored to local climates and building stock, while protecting essential energy needs for households and critical services, as described in institutional statements attributed to EU leadership.