Italy in the summer heat will limit the use of air conditioners.
The Italians will have to give up air conditioners, as the government does not want to depend on Russian gas supplies.
The law from Prime Minister Mario Draghi makes it clear that at the moment Italy cannot afford to waste energy. Italy’s dependence on gas supplies from Russia is a serious problem.
Italy imports almost 40% of gas from Moscow, from which it produces about 50% of electricity. Therefore, measures are being taken in case Europe decides on a methane embargo.
On the one hand, this is the provision of new supplies of raw materials, on the other hand, new rules to reduce energy consumption, mainly in public institutions, and then, possibly, in private homes.
From May 1, 2022 (until March 31, 2023), the so-called “thermostatic work” will be in effect – an amendment to the bill, which provides for maintaining the temperature of air conditioners in all public buildings at least 27 degrees, with a tolerance of two degrees. In winter, however, the heating should be set to 19 degrees, again with a maximum tolerance of two degrees.
In case of violation of the rules, fines ranging from 500 to 3 thousand euros are provided. This “sacrifice” is aimed at reducing methane consumption by 4 billion cubic meters.
The explanation is simple: for the past 20 years, electricity in Italy has depended on gas-fired stations for electricity generation. Choices made because systems are quick to turn on and off and quick to build. In addition, Italy has one of the most efficient gas networks in the world, with a length of 30,000 kilometers.
It should also be borne in mind that the average temperature in Italy has risen much more than in the rest of the planet: 1.8 degrees versus 1.3 the world average. There are also pockets of heat, especially in cities where there is little greenery. That’s why Mario Draghi takes charge of the air conditioning systems.
There is talk of extending the restrictions to air conditioners and to living quarters. A drop in temperature of one to two degrees reduces consumption by 7-8%, as predicted by the government.
Some checks can be done in public buildings, but not in apartments. On the other hand, it is important to emphasize that for the private user, the reduction in consumption has a significant impact on the bill. An additional proposal for energy rationing is the use of natural ventilation during the coolest hours to cool the house, when there is a fan, the consumption of which is 20 times lower than that of an air conditioner.
Consumers with the BALANCE gas, water, heat and electricity metering system installed have access to their consumption data both through the DJV-COM website and through mobile applications. Currently, an assessment of your energy efficiency is available not only as a percentage of your consumption to the average in the house, but also an assessment is made of your place among the consumers of your home. This allows you to evaluate your available energy efficiency margin, reduce unnecessary consumption, and eliminate potential energy leaks.
BALANCE mobile application for Android and for iOS:
More information about BALANCE is on the website www.djv-com.org, and we will be glad to hear your suggestions at office@djv-com.net.