Last Thursday, the French government rolled out an energy-saving drive pushing the most dramatic conservation measures the nation has undertaken since the 1970s oil crisis. The drive is a response to Europe’s intensifying energy crisis as Russia continues cutting off Europe from its natural gas supplies, the bloc’s main source for heating. By encouraging citizens and businesses to conserve energy, the French government aims to avoid a bleak winter of enforced energy rationing or rolling blackouts. The drive’s conservation measures include requesting that households take cooler showers and lower their thermostats, cutting off hot water in public buildings, and turning off lights earlier in office buildings, on advertisements, and on the Eiffel Tower (New York Times). 

While these measures are targeted at averting energy crisis this winter, the French state hopes they will instill a lasting cultural shift toward energy conservation. President Emmanuel Macron suggested the measures may usher in a new era of “energy sobriety” for France, which could hasten the country’s 2050 goal of reducing its energy use by 40% (AP News). 

Energy conservation measures are also being rolled out in other parts of Europe as nations across the bloc try to stave off power and gas shortages. Leading by example, the European Parliament just announced it will be turning off indoor heating in its buildings three days out of the week and lowering its thermostats for other days to conserve energy (Reuters).