The impending gas crisis also has an impact on ministries and the state parliament in NRW: the state government is examining various options for saving energy – including heating in certain areas of buildings. In the state parliament, it is no longer so cool in the meeting rooms.
Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – The North Rhine-Westphalian government is examining whether parts of the state administration building will soon only be heated in parts. The possibility arises from “changed work situations” such as home office regulations, it said on dpa request. Due to the looming gas crisis, individual ministries are planning to turn down air conditioning and reduce hot water in kitchens and washrooms. The state parliament has already reacted to the current situation.
In order to “save energy in the short term and react to the gas shortage”, the Düsseldorf Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, headed by Mona Neubaur (Greens), wants to heat less in autumn and winter. The air conditioners should no longer cool as much as usual in summer, and the “availability in kitchens and sanitary facilities” of hot water should be reduced, according to a spokesman.
According to a spokeswoman, the air conditioning systems in the Ministry of Justice have already been warmed up. Further measures would be examined in consultation with the construction and real estate company (BLB).
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance is investigating the possibility of “zoned heating” of parts of buildings in order to curb gas consumption. “User behavior is also taken into account in order to reduce energy consumption and costs at the same time.”
According to a spokeswoman, the lighting in the State Chancellery, which is currently being renovated, is to be completely converted to energy-saving LED technology. The roof and inner courtyard façade would be energetically insulated.
In the Düsseldorf state parliament, the cooling of the meeting rooms has already been reduced. That said a spokesman on dpa request. By how many degrees exactly, one cannot put a general figure. In the Bundestag, the air conditioning in the halls is to be adjusted from a room temperature of 22 to 24 degrees to 24 to 26 degrees.
As further “short-term measures”, according to the state parliament, the information screens in meeting rooms and the basic lighting in the plenary hall will be switched off earlier. Further steps are currently being examined on behalf of the President of the State Parliament, André Kuper.
