Good morning,
I just received a steep price increase from my energy provider enercity, raising the cost to 15 cents per kWh starting in August. That’s really tough, and I think prices will rise even further.
It’s a strange feeling to be thrown back so quickly into an energy supply situation where you have to figure out how to keep the house warm. It seems to me that the government has given up on the goal of enabling everyone to adequately cover at least their basic needs.
Goodbye central supply structures; now the winner is whoever has solar panels and a heat pump in their new build, while the others are left out.
Welcome back, coal heating 😕
Frustrated regards,
I just received a steep price increase from my energy provider enercity, raising the cost to 15 cents per kWh starting in August. That’s really tough, and I think prices will rise even further.
It’s a strange feeling to be thrown back so quickly into an energy supply situation where you have to figure out how to keep the house warm. It seems to me that the government has given up on the goal of enabling everyone to adequately cover at least their basic needs.
Goodbye central supply structures; now the winner is whoever has solar panels and a heat pump in their new build, while the others are left out.
Welcome back, coal heating 😕
Frustrated regards,
B
Bertram10027 Jul 2022 07:32Altai schrieb:
We are by no means as alone in Germany as it is often portrayed. I think that is a very important statement.
It’s about much more than just saving renewable energy and gas. In Africa, a counter-movement against plastic and styrofoam is emerging; in France, supermarkets are not allowed to throw away food; in the Netherlands, the highway speed limit is reduced to 100 km/h (62 mph); and in Copenhagen, the modal split in mobility is 43/35/22. More than half of all trips are made without private cars. There are thousands of examples elsewhere showing efforts to use resources more carefully. I don’t know of any widespread initiative in Germany that could take a leading role. It is not only wrong to think we are “the only ones who want to do something,” but we are actually close to the very back of the pack.
SumsumBiene27 Jul 2022 09:37Biogas isn’t really organic either, and that would then be cancelled out. Transporting maize from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to Schleswig-Holstein to keep the plants running profitably is simply not ecologically sensible.
It’s all about the mix. There isn’t just one single solution to the energy problem.
It’s all about the mix. There isn’t just one single solution to the energy problem.
P
Pinkiponk27 Jul 2022 09:50Altai schrieb:
...I fully agree with both of your posts and want to contribute to the discussion. However, it is very important to me that every measure is accompanied by efforts to reduce global population growth. We humans are increasingly taking away habitats from animals and plants, and this is unlikely to change with renewable energy sources. Since 1974, the human population has nearly doubled. Every human life is valuable, and I hope these lives are not only valuable but also happy; at the same time, I believe that, due to the Earth's limited resources, this is not possible for an unlimited number of people.P
Pinkiponk27 Jul 2022 10:03Bertram100 schrieb:
...Thank you for your comments. I think it’s a good approach that every government starts “somewhere” or initiates “something,” so others can observe and learn from it. As mentioned before, I believe not every country has to implement everything immediately, but rather begin with some of the examples you named. This will also create new business opportunities (while others will likely disappear).In Germany, I wouldn’t necessarily start with a speed limit; instead, I would begin with a higher VAT on meat and sausages. This could be accompanied by measures such as numerous reports/documentaries from slaughterhouses, cooking shows featuring tasty alternatives, cooking lessons in schools with little or no meat content, and so on. Even though I eat meat and sausages myself, I’m still not often aware that I am consuming carcasses. But that’s a very subjective example. :-) Being able to occasionally drive fast in exceptional cases is more important to me than eating meat and sausages.
So, I am definitely more in favor of a speed limit than higher VAT on meat and sausage. Meat and sausage are harmful and not healthy. Is local, regional meat worse than chocolate?
If VAT is to be increased for environmental reasons, then it should be applied correctly to all food products. And who is supposed to decide that?
Argentinian beef higher rate, meat from the local farmer who only feeds his own livestock lower rate, plums from Chile higher rate, those from Germany lower rate—what about ones from Italy? Or apples? At what point is a German apple more harmful than an imported apple?
A lot has changed in the meat sector in recent months. On the one hand, there have been massive price increases for consumers, especially in the budget range; on the other hand, it is becoming increasingly unprofitable for producers. As long as cheaper meat from abroad doesn’t arrive, the market will regulate itself.
A speed limit can be implemented without a bureaucratic nightmare. Those who want to drive fast—and yes, that is a lot of fun—should go to racetracks. German autobahns are hardly suitable for that anymore.
If VAT is to be increased for environmental reasons, then it should be applied correctly to all food products. And who is supposed to decide that?
Argentinian beef higher rate, meat from the local farmer who only feeds his own livestock lower rate, plums from Chile higher rate, those from Germany lower rate—what about ones from Italy? Or apples? At what point is a German apple more harmful than an imported apple?
A lot has changed in the meat sector in recent months. On the one hand, there have been massive price increases for consumers, especially in the budget range; on the other hand, it is becoming increasingly unprofitable for producers. As long as cheaper meat from abroad doesn’t arrive, the market will regulate itself.
A speed limit can be implemented without a bureaucratic nightmare. Those who want to drive fast—and yes, that is a lot of fun—should go to racetracks. German autobahns are hardly suitable for that anymore.