Poor and old people are expected to sleep in halls due to the gas crisis in Germany

Even now, in midsummer, the thought of the coming winter sends shivers down the spines of Germany's mayors.

Because if Kremlin despot Vladimir Putin carries out his threat and stops gas deliveries, not only will energy costs continue to rise - then the supply to households is threatened

More and more cities are therefore currently forming crisis teams and developing emergency plans. Ludwigshafen (Rhineland-Palatinate) is even planning to set up halls in which citizens who can no longer afford heating can warm up. "We are currently preparing for all emergency scenarios with a view to autumn and winter," said Mayor Jutta Steinruck (SPD). The Friedrich-Ebert-Halle will serve as the central warm-up station.

The multi-purpose hall, in which sporting events, exhibitions and concerts have previously taken place, was already used as a vaccination center during the corona pandemic. Instead of injections, there will be heat there for free in the future.

• Neustadt, Frankenthal and Landau are also planning so-called heat islands. Other energy saving plans: Turning off lights in public buildings or traffic lights – at least at night.
• Düsseldorf: In order to “save energy in the short term and react to the gas shortage”, the Düsseldorf Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, for example, wants to heat less in autumn and winter. The air conditioning systems should no longer cool as much as usual in summer, and the "availability in kitchens and sanitary facilities" for hot water should be reduced, according to a spokesman.
• Rendsburg has canceled its ice rink planned for this year's Christmas market to save energy. A spokeswoman said on Friday that the cooling units consumed a lot of electricity, which could then possibly be missing elsewhere. In view of the predicted gas shortage, this is considered irresponsible. In many cases, gas is also used to generate electricity.

Source: BZ