HS Turku | The state now appeals to patriotism and asks to save electricity – “Let’s read a book at home in the light of a lamp”

State expected energy saving campaign was presented on Thursday in Turku. The public has already talked about, among other things, the call to limit taking a shower to five minutes next winter. Campaign manager, Motiva’s director of communications Kati Laakso however, did not declare actual minute restrictions.

“But if a teenager lives at home, maybe after five or ten minutes you could go and knock on the door of the shower room,” Laakso hinted.

The energy saving campaign will not officially start until October. However, the Turku Europe Forum presented a taste of what kind of instructions the state administration wants to give to citizens struggling with expensive electricity prices.

The theme of the campaign is “A step down”. According to Laakso, it can mean, for example, a slightly lighter gas pedal for motorists to save gasoline. Another concrete goal is to lower the indoor temperature of homes by one degree. The Minister of Economic Affairs, who started at the event, also promised to tackle this Mika Lintilä (center).

In addition, Laakso also urged to use “a little less entertainment electronics”.

“Let’s read a book at home in the light of a fikkar. It could sometimes be really exciting to do with children.”

In October, during the national energy saving week, it is planned to present more concrete saving tips.

The campaign behind them are the Ministry of Labor and the Economy, Motiva, the Energy Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to Communications Director Laakso, the state now plans to appeal to citizens’ patriotism and national identity.

“Perhaps the emotional side is important here. Even if this doesn’t bother you, it’s good to take care of the neighbor so that there is enough electricity for all of us in the coming heating season.”

The goal of the energy campaign is to get three out of four Finns to reduce their own energy consumption during the next winter. We hope that the learned habits will be permanent.

“The long-term goal is to reach permanently lower energy consumption and equalize consumption peaks.”

Minister of Economic Affairs In his speech, Lintilä warned that no quick reductions in energy prices can be expected.

“Unfortunately, it seems that there is no going back to the old prices.”

Lintilä reminded that various savings campaigns have been launched in several European countries.

“In Germany, you only get cold showers in swimming pools and I don’t know if this is the right place to save money. In Spain, public spaces may not be cooled below 27 degrees or heated above 19 degrees.”

Lintilä also said that in the near future, he will invite representatives of the business world to a round table discussion, where they will look for ways for the business sector to participate in savings talks.

The Energy Agency manager Heikki Väisänen said that he had heard that the Germans had also started storing firewood for the winter. He admits that he did the same.

“At this point, I have to say on behalf of my wife that the plastic bags that appeared in the backyard of our electrically heated detached house were ordered on her initiative. My role remained to show the driver the place where the sacks were placed”, Väisänen amused the audience at the campaign event.

He repeated Lintilä’s warning that the heating season will be heavy.

According to Väisänen, for example, heating oil is currently about 80 percent more expensive than a year ago.

“As an oil heater, I wouldn’t wait for the price of oil to drop.”

“The next six months will be quite unreasonable for many consumers and companies. Then you can say that it is not unreasonable that we all participate in austerity talks.”

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