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Drop in Energy Use Coincides with Economic Growth in 2007

Germany’s energy consumption fell substantially in 2007 to its lowest level since reunification, according to the Economics Ministry and based on a report by an energy industry consortium. Compared to the previous year, use of primary energies dropped 5 percent overall; compared to 1990 it dropped 7.1 percent, according to the ministry.

This drastic drop in energy use is especially gratifying as it coincides with robust economic growth, according to Economics Minister Michael Glos. Though the warm winter helped, this development still shows that policies are aiming for energy efficiency, he said. Companies are using energy evermore frugally, a trend that needs to be continued and strengthened, Glos said, to make Germany more independent from imports of oil and gas. “My goal is, in spite of rising energy costs, to keep the overall financial burden on businesses constant through energy efficiency.”

Those rising energy costs helped make energy-saving programs more popular. In addition to record numbers for a CO2 building renovation program, the independent energy-consulting services subsidized by the ministry were also much in demand.

With the continued drop in energy use, Germany’s CO2 emissions are also dropping significantly. The Economics Ministry expects a 2007 reduction of 3.6 percent compared to 2006. Compared to 1990, Germany has reduced CO2 emissions by about 19.3 percent, setting it well on the way to achieving its Kyoto obligation of a 21 percent reduction by 2012.

January 10, 2008

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