THE EU CATEGORISES NUCLEAR POWER AS GREEN ENERGY
New nuclear power plants and gas-fired power plants are to be categorised as green in the EU for a transitional period. However, only under strict conditions. Nevertheless, nuclear power in Germany is not green. Many questions have not yet been fully clarified and more will arise.
The EU Parliament in Strasbourg has categorised nuclear energy as sustainable - and therefore climate-friendly and worthy of support. The same applies to gas energy. Green eco-label for nuclear power ? Renewable energies, i.e. wind or solar energy, are climate-friendly. However, politicians in the European Union have also categorised nuclear power as climate-friendly. But this has also been criticised. One of the main causes of climate change is the amount of carbon dioxide/COâ''. The gas is blown into the air by car exhausts or factories, for example. However, it is also released into the air during the production of electricity - namely by coal-fired power stations. Environmentally friendly alternatives are so-called renewable energies: electricity from solar or wind power produces hardly any climate-damaging COâ''. The European Union decided in February of this year: Electricity from nuclear power and natural gas is also climate-friendly. This was recognised as climate-friendly categorisedthey say. This "official" EU categorisation could help companies involved in gas or nuclear power to get more money. The EU justifies this decision as follows: the production of electricity from gas and nuclear power only generates small amounts of climate-damaging COâ''. The EU is to become climate-neutral by 2050. This means that no more COâ'' may be emitted by cars, factories or power stations, for example, than can be broken down by nature.
The EU Parliament has rejected the objection to Brussels' taxonomy regulation. Nuclear energy and gas are therefore considered sustainable for the time being. Some critics say that we will only achieve the climate target if the countries of the EU are no longer dependent on electricity from nuclear power, coal or gas. They say that the EU should therefore support companies that produce environmentally friendly electricity from solar, wind and hydropower.
HOW CAN I DO MY BIT TO SAVE ENERGY?
We recommend involving professionals in the preparations right from the start. Small energy savings make a big difference in the household. Many private households in Switzerland have huge energy-saving potential. Use a few simple tips to waste fewer resources and save money at the same time...
a.
Save hot water by taking shorter showers that are not too hot. A water temperature of around 37°C is ideal for saving energy.
b.
Computers, TVs, etc. also consume energy in standby mode. Switch these devices off completely if possible.
c.
Switch off the light in an unused room. Switch off the light when you leave the room.
d.
The room temperature must not exceed 20 °C. Reduce the room temperature by approx. 1 °C to quickly save over 5%.
e.
Always put a lid on the pan to save energy. Otherwise most of it will evaporate during cooking.
WHETHER GREEN OR SUSTAINABLE, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SAVE MONEY
- 10 % of a household's electricity consumption is caused by cooling appliances.
- Around 25 % of water consumption in Switzerland is used for bathing and showering.
- A two-person household uses around 13 % of its electricity consumption for baking and cooking with electric appliances.
- A kettle requires around 30 % less energy than a pan with a lid when heating water.
- When buying (new) appliances, look out for efficient appliances with the highest energy class in order to save energy and money.
- Approx. 40 % of water can be saved by installing a flow regulator.
- You save 6 to 10 % of heating energy for every degree of reduced room temperature.
- 15 % Electricity is saved in an electric oven with the convection function instead of top and bottom heat.
- Thermostatic valves on radiators reduce energy consumption by up to 20 % as they automatically maintain the room temperature at the desired value.
