Copied and Google translated from le Sud Ouest this morning (so apologies for minor translation blips!).
"“The effort must be immediate, collective and massive. Every gesture counts”, indicate in a rare common forum the bosses of the three groups
The leaders of the three French energy companies TotalEnergies, EDF and Engie call together on Sunday, the French to reduce “immediately” their consumption of fuel, oil, electricity and gas in the face of the risk of shortage and soaring prices.
“The effort must be immediate, collective and massive. Every gesture counts", indicated in a rare joint forum published by the Journal du Dimanche, Patrick Pouyanné (TotalEnergies), Jean-Bernard Levy (EDF) and Catherine MacGregor (Engie), while France, like the rest of Europe , is trying to fill its gas reserves for next winter, with a French target of 100% storage filled by early autumn, despite the drop in Russian gas deliveries.
"Awareness"
In addition to the difficulties of gas supply linked to the consequences of the war in Ukraine, there are “tensions” on the controllable electricity production capacities in Europe, and a hydraulic production “amputated” due to the drought, they explain. “The soaring energy prices resulting from these difficulties threaten our social and political cohesion and have a too heavy impact on the purchasing power of families” note the authors of the text.
"The best energy remains that which we do not consume" underline the three leaders who call for "awareness and collective and individual action so that each of us - each consumer, each company - changes our behavior and limits immediately its consumption of energy, electricity, gas and petroleum products.
They want the launch of a “major energy efficiency program” and a “national waste hunt”. "Acting this summer will allow us to be better prepared to tackle next winter and in particular to preserve our gas reserves", believe the three leaders. “Responsible industrial players, our three groups are committed to actively collaborating” indicate the bosses.
I wonder if it'll stop a neighbour mowing every other day (it seems!), or slow people's driving habits. We're certainly looking at alternative cooking/heating methods to reduce gas/electric - but that's only possible if you have the choice. Tough days ahead folks, but at least we haven't had our homes blown to bits, and had to evacuate (or worse). Someone needs to eradicate us of that evil Putin.
"...alternative cooking/heating methods to reduce gas/electric - but that's only possible if you have the choice."
Exactly. How many millions rent draughty and damp accommodation with no right to improve it? Then there are elderly owners on small pensions...
All very well for the big bosses to lecture the cutomers, but have they turned down their office thermostats? Do they put on sweaters when it becomes chilly, or hike the heat and continue their meetings in shirtsleeves?
MAD87 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 9:09 am
"...alternative cooking/heating methods to reduce gas/electric - but that's only possible if you have the choice."
Exactly. How many millions rent draughty and damp accommodation with no right to improve it? Then there are elderly owners on small pensions...
All very well for the big bosses to lecture the cutomers, but have they turned down their office thermostats? Do they put on sweaters when it becomes chilly, or hike the heat and continue their meetings in shirtsleeves?
Absolutely - or elderly who rely soley on electric, as they can't manage the woodburner anymore. Let's see if the "national waste hunt" includes clamping own on the biggest consumers too. Meanwhile, now watch the cost of firewood go up.
Industry has already had to cut back (production) due to soaring costs which it can no longer absorb. We have to brace ourselves for rising costs all round and / or reduced consumption. The latter doesn't apparently apply to holidays!! Beats me how folk can afford all these gas-guzzling, big-as-buses motorhomes that fill the parking areas here.
The result of basing your energy policy around the mutterings of a petulant Swedish teenager.
Meanwhile, whilst we close our industries to save energy and put people out of work, and whilst we leave our pensioners in fear of switching on anything electric, China and India will increase their coal usage by 700 million tons over the next two years.
All the evidence is there to tell us the situation is serious and because other countries behave ignorantly we, and others, should act responsibly. China and India will suffer greatly from global warming and what they are doing amounts to self harm. Unfortunately the people who rake in the profits are only interested in short term gains but the near future generations will pay the price.
Wilbro wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 11:46 amAll the evidence is there to tell us the situation is serious and because other countries behave ignorantly we, and others, should act responsibly. China and India will suffer greatly from global warming and what they are doing amounts to self harm. Unfortunately the people who rake in the profits are only interested in short term gains but the near future generations will pay the price.
We cannot change things, Xi and Modi will say one thing and do another. Should European pensioners freeze to death and European workers lose their livelihoods for nothing?
What is needed is a 500% "energy emergency tarif" on all imports from countries that don't cut their CO2 production. But the WTO won't allow it - and people addicted to their CCC will also complain.
I've just checked our 'leccy consumption July-June for the last 3 years up to & including this June (where I estimated the consumption) &, according to EDF espace client, it's been 2019/20 - 5,426 kWh. '20/'21- 6,802. ' 21-'22- 5,380.
Seems like we used more during the winter of 20/21, probably to running lounge electric rads during the day, but otherwise pretty stable despite everything being on some form of standby, 2 big freezers & 2 fridge freezers etc etc. Hot water by leccy switched on at HC. Lounge & hence bedrooms heated by wood after 1700hrs
Interesting to see that the kitchen/dayroom 4kw output air/air PAC, energised for about 12 hours per day, appears to cost us about 1€ per day which seems about right & very ecconomic ( 0.8kw input x12 hrs x 0.6 weather factor =approx 6 kWh/day)
A huge amount of electricity must be wasted through excessive street lighting. The village next to us puts its street lights out at 11pm but further along the bay, the town is lit up like a Christmas tree all night even though the place is dead at night .... Shops say that lights in their windows at night are to prevent break-ins ... perhaps grill-type shutters would be cheaper and more eco friendly if less attractive ....
People try to cut down on their electricity consumption due to the cost, but many of those on a low budget have no option (as MAD has already pointed out).
We've noticed for some time that many shops have cut down on excessive heating but go overboard on lighting.
A lot of people we come across have their television on from the moment they get up until they go to bed even though they aren't watching it. Background noise for company ?? It's certainly an irritating distraction !
Drop in for a natter about anything French related.
Someone needs to eradicate us of that evil Putin.
