The Energy Plan of the City of Graz has three levels: early warning, alarm and emergency levels. The early warning was activated on Monday: “The city wants to set a good example in all areas and save energy where it makes sense and is possible,” said Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ).
This has consequences for the heating season. For example, corridors in official buildings may only be heated moderately in order to avoid frost damage. Offices should not get warmer than 20 degrees, meeting rooms should be heated little or not at all – additional radiators are banned. In the toilet facilities, the boilers in the washbasins will be switched off, so cold water will have to suffice for washing hands, and the number of refrigerators will also be reduced. In the indoor pools, the air and water temperature is reduced by one degree.
From 2023 off for heating mushrooms
The public buildings are illuminated for a shorter time at night, the Christmas lights are switched on later than usual: instead of ten days before the first Sunday in Advent, they are now two days before, and they are also switched off at 10 p.m. From 2023, the heating pads in guest gardens should also be banned if an early warning stage is active nationwide. It is currently being examined whether the city’s WLAN can be deactivated at night.
Klagenfurt is also turning down the Christmas lights: instead of the usual early November, they will only come on from the first Saturday in Advent, November 26th, and will only stay on until 10 p.m.