Dutch government calls for thermostat to be lowered to 19 degrees

The Dutch government calls on Dutch people through advertisements in all major newspapers to take shorter showers and to set the heating at home to a maximum of 19 degrees. The thermostat is also set 2 degrees lower in government buildings, it sounds like.

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As a result of the war in Ukraine, energy prices have also risen sharply in the Netherlands. Dutch inflation rose in March to a staggering 11.9 percent, in Belgium that is a good 8 percent. The cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has earmarked money to limit the impact on the poorest households. There will also be subsidies and cheap loans for people who want to insulate their homes better.

But now the government is coming with advice to reduce gas consumption† ‘We have to turn that switch together’, it sounds in an advertisement in the major Dutch newspapers. ‘These steps lower your energy bill, reduce our dependence on gas from Russia and are better for our climate.’

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The advice is not to set the heating higher than 19 degrees during the day and to maintain 15 degrees as a maximum at night. Companies are asked to look at how energy can be saved on lighting, heating and ventilation. The government itself sets a good example and sets the thermostat in some 200 public buildings 2 degrees lower.

‘Energy saving has not received the attention it deserves in recent years. We are now going to change that’, says Minister of Climate and Energy Rob Jetten (D66).

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