Germany has 83.2 million people, and the country is suffering from an energy shortage. In Göttingen and in the lab, there are steps people take to save energy every day. Since moving here, I have noticed small and large ways that people save energy individually, which results in community and national-level savings.
Upon moving to Germany, I learned the extent to which the country is experiencing an energy crisis. While Germans already try to save energy due to understanding the impacts of climate change, the Russian aggression against Ukraine has resulted in Germany losing gas supplies from Russia and consequently being plunged into an energy crisis. Therefore, everyone tries to use less heating and electricity. There are also direct economic impacts, as many people’s rent increased at the beginning of this year due to the increased cost of energy.
Germans mention climate change frequently, such as in the context of the warmer summers Germany has experienced recently or the flash flooding that occurred in 2021 and killed over 175 people. As a result, they understand that they need to use less energy in order for less fossil fuels/gas to be burned. Therefore, communities find ways to be energy efficient. For instance, many people in Göttingen ride bicycles or take the bus instead of driving.
