This message is for the politicians and economic decision-makers.
In the first place I regret deeply the situation of the Ukrainian people. It is indeed in the first place a human crisis.
In the second place, it shows how also the energy situation of the whole world and particularly in Europe has been built as a house on sand. About sand we can talk if we consider the weak arguments of a major energy supplier that initiated the war and is now able to escalate.Â
And only now we start talking about becoming independent of our main supplier of energy (and other essential commodities). I hear politicians talk about several kinds of Renewable (and non-R) Energy but am still waiting a word about the potential of Energy Efficiency. Politicians are supposed to know a magazine like The Economist, which called Energy Efficiency “the Invisible Fuel” in a special issue of 2015. It all contributes to energy independency! And Efficiency has additional advantages.
I have seen (big) industries in several countries from the inside and can assure that there is huge potential for reduction of energy consumption without reducing the amount or quality of the goods and services, so that we will quickly (and that is important!) be less dependent on unsure supply. And that in a constant way, because each Energy Conservation Opportunity (ECO) grants its benefits continuously over long times.
Why are we desparately looking for new water taps to open, if the water is escaping through so many leaks? Let politicians focus first on the leaks, please!
If you ask, how, then I respond that it is a good question and it can be solved.