Europeans intensified their efforts towards energy conservation during winter 2022-23. However, the question remains: Can they sustain these conservation practices?

In the face of rising energy costs and a reliance on fossil fuels, Europe has been making significant strides in reducing energy consumption, particularly in the heating and cooling of buildings. According to a report by Neuhoff's think tank, this sector accounts for about half of Europe's energy consumption, more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and 35% of gas consumption.

Germany, in particular, has seen a host of organizations working towards this goal. These include the Deutsches Energieberater Netzwerk e.V. (DEN), a network of energy experts supporting building renovations; the Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude (BEG) program, a federal funding initiative promoting energy-efficient building renovations and new construction; research institutes like FIW München developing innovative energy efficiency methods; professional associations such as the Fachverband Luftdichtheit im Bauwesen promoting airtight building envelopes and cooperating with energy agencies; and industry groups like the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Gebäude und Energie (VdZ) representing the heating and building technology sector.

While EU electricity demand fell by only around 3% last year, Germany has made significant strides in reducing gas consumption. The country aims to keep gas consumption at a level no higher than that of last winter, with a compromise agreement stipulating that heating systems should run on 65% renewable energy from 2024. Germany's gas storage facilities are nearly full again with winter approaching, a testament to the nation's efforts to conserve energy.

However, the power crisis is not over, as stated by Klaus Mueller, head of the Federal Network Agency. If next winter is a cold one, Germany could again run the risk of shortages and blackouts. This sentiment is shared by John Kemp of the Reuters news agency, who concluded that European countries got lucky with the weather and industry shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden of reducing demand.

Europeans have been encouraged to adopt energy-stingy habits, with consumers lowering their thermostats by an average of around 0.6 °C, in part, due to government-led campaigns to reduce energy demand. These efforts have resulted in the EU's gas demand falling by 13% last year, the steepest drop in history. The International Energy Agency (IEA) credited the gas savings to industry, which cut down production hours, lowered room temperatures in buildings, and installed heat pumps.

Efficiency experts advocate the energy-saving actions Europeans embarked on and hope to make permanent. The European Commission wants Member States to extend their voluntary target to curb their gas demand by 15% compared to their 2017-2022 average consumption. This push for energy efficiency extends beyond Germany, with countries like Denmark reducing Christmas lighting and Finland encouraging its citizens to spend fewer hours in the sauna.

Despite these efforts, the energy-stingy habits of the most recent winter are uncertain whether they are the new normal or the exception to the rule. As winter approaches and temperatures drop, it remains to be seen if Europe can maintain its commitment to energy conservation and continue to reduce gas consumption.