If I were in the government of an EU member state exposed to natural gas scarcity and very high energy prices, I'd use the momentum to put in place a massive energy efficiency drive, with short-, medium-, and long-term elements. Never waste a good crisis.
So far, the deer-in-the-headlight approach seems to be the more popular one, unfortunately.
Such a program would address all sectors: industry, large buildings, homes, trucks, passenger cars, shipping, and aviation. Quick wins would be combined with structural measures taking a bit more time. Long term commitments would form the basis for a whole new industry.
The emergence of big, dynamic, growing markets for energy efficiency solutions would trigger competition and innovation in companies. The country would become a hotspot for domestic and international suppliers. This in turn would make practical technical jobs popular again.
Right from the start, an improvement plan for energy monitoring would be started. In my own country, the national statistics agency doesn't know the electricity consumption of households anymore: it lost track since some grid companies subtract residential PV and others don't.
Because you can't drive forward a serious energy efficiency program, constantly learning and improving from doing, without proper, robust, and validated monitoring of what's happening, at an adequate level of detail.
And how to generate enthusiasm in society without being able to properly report on progress? Because that's what we need.
Without it, you get moaning about high prices and stupid stories about renewables causing natural gas scarcity here, and giggles all around the Kremlin.
Without it, you get moaning about high prices and stupid stories about renewables causing natural gas scarcity here, and giggles all around the Kremlin.
@threadreaderapp please unroll
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