Energy crisis: curbing consumption requires everyone’s contribution
Considering the important role played by Russian gas in covering Italy’s natural gas demand (ca. 40 per cent in 2021), the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has made it necessary to define urgent measures to ensure reliable national supplies, and to promote better informed energy consumption with a view to decarbonisation.
In this context, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MiTE), has prepared a National Plan to curb natural gas consumption, consistently with the European Commission’s indications.
The plan envisages several measures, including the reduction of consumption promoted by regulating the operation of heating systems (i.e. by changing the current regulation governing temperature and winter heating hours) with a decree of the Minister of Ecological Transition.
Specifically, heating system operation has been reduced by one hour a day, and the winter heating period for 2022-2023 has been shortened by 15 days, postponing the start date by 8 days, and bringing forward the end date by 7 days. In addition, room comfort temperature will be reduced by 1°C from the current 20°C to 19°C.
Alongside these provisions, particular attention will be paid to “behavioural measures”, i.e. the promotion of virtuous conduct everybody can adopt to contribute towards reducing energy consumption and the cost of bills, besides positive effects for the environment.
To this end, an Operational Guide for staff has been prepared by ENEA (National Agency for Energy Efficiency), with useful information and advice that can be implemented in offices, classrooms and also at home.
As part of the implementation of measures set out in the Plan, and consistently with its own sustainability policies, the University has accepted the invitation to promote a few simple habits among the entire university community. Applied by everybody, such measures will have a significant impact.
- During the day, set the fan coil unit in your office to minimum speed and, where present, reduce the thermostatic valve setting of your radiator by one point. A lower speed or temperature point will save more energy.
- Remember not to cover fan coils and radiators in any way, and to close windows and doors while the heating system is running.
- Air your room for no more than five minutes, if you need to do so.
- Before leaving the office, remember to switch off your computer and other equipment for personal use (printers, computer screens, etc.). If you are working from home the next day and need the computer switched on to access network folders, remember that you can anyhow switch off the computer screen.
- At the end of the day, also check that you have turned off lights and fan coil units, and lowered blinds to reduce heat loss.
- Close the doors of rooms and common halls after use.
- On leaving the building, help us turn off the lights in common areas, such as bathrooms, corridors, stairways and meeting rooms, when they are no longer in use.
- If you can, use the stairs instead of the lift.
For more information, refer to the annexes, which contain a number of useful tips to reduce consumption in both home and work settings: