Preparing for emergencies in Neuss: what's the plan?
In the city of Neuss, various entities are taking proactive steps to address an impending gas shortage. The Industry and Commerce Chamber of the Middle Rhine-Neckar region, the city of Neuss, and Neuss Public Utilities recently hosted a "Crisis Summit" to discuss navigating this challenging situation.
At the summit, around 40 gas-intensive companies from the Neuss district were present. The Utilities and the IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) are providing advice to these companies on energy reduction strategies.
One such strategy involves tenants voluntarily lowering their room temperatures by at least 1 degree in September. This simple action could lead to energy savings of 6 percent, according to estimates. Moreover, the Neusser Building Association will not impose regulations on tenants; instead, they are turning down the heat in apartments to 17 degrees at night.
The Building Association is also taking steps to ensure efficient heating. Heating systems are being checked to ensure they are functioning optimally. Tenants will also receive tips on energy-saving measures from the Building Association.
The city of Neuss is also implementing energy-saving measures. For instance, street lighting is being converted to energy-efficient LED technology, and window and facade insulation on the town hall is being renewed. The city's baths have been implementing energy-saving measures since early May, including reducing water and hall temperatures, and shutting down decorative fireplaces.
Three building projects, Leuchtenberg, Augustinuspark, and Nordkanalallee, are already heated with wood pellet systems.
Stephan Lommetz, CEO of Neuss Public Utilities, stated that these measures are expected to save over 900,000 kilowatt hours of natural gas. He emphasized that these savings are equivalent to the annual natural gas consumption of around 30 single-family homes.
Lommetz also emphasized the utilities' collaboration with the city and the Industry and Commerce Chamber to manage the energy crisis. He advised utility customers to increase their monthly installments now to avoid a high catch-up payment next year.
Gas prices are expected to significantly increase, with at least a doubling likely. Jürgen Steinmetz, CEO of the IHK, emphasized the need for voluntary energy reduction to avoid targeted shutdowns. Heiko Mülleneisen, spokesperson for the Building Association, warned that heating without proper insulation could lead to mold formation.
Despite these challenges, Neuss is demonstrating a commendable effort in addressing the energy crisis through collaborative and proactive measures.
