Four things nations can do to save energy

European Union officials have called on countries in the bloc to drastically reduce their consumption of natural gas. Here are some of the strategies they could use.

This week temperatures in Britain hit a record high of 40.3 degrees Celsius, or 104, 5 Fahrenheit, capping a brutal heat wave that scorched Europe and sent electricity demand skyrocketing.

It happened in the middle of a war in Ukraine that has upended the global energy market.

The energy crisis prompted the European Union executive this week to ask states members to reduce their gas consumption by 15% by next spring, as authorities prepare for Russia to reduce natural gas deliveries in the coming months.

Here are some of the steps countries could take to reduce energy demand, and some of the potential pitfalls:

Adjust the thermostats, starting by government buildings

Setting an air conditioner just one degree Celsius, or about two degrees Fahrenheit, warmer could reduce the amount of electricity used by 10% per year, according to the International Energy Agency.

Nick Eyre, professor of energy and climate policy at the University of Oxford, said governments could set an example. The general public, he noted, might not respond well to politicians who tell them how to live without making changes themselves.

Adjust the thermostat more winter lows of just one degree Celsius for buildings in Europe could save up to 10 billion cubic meters of gas, equivalent to Austria's annual gas demand.

Reducing the cost of public transport

Globally, incentivizing transport by making it cheaper and encouraging other mobility options, such as walking or cycling, could save an estimated 330,000 barrels of oil per day, according to the IEA.

That number could rise if employers simultaneously offer flexibility in working hours or allow more work-from-home days .

Some countries in Europe already do this. From June until at least August, Deutsche Bahn, Germany's national railway company, is offering unlimited public transport passes for the equivalent of around $9 a month, in the framework of plans to mitigate the effects of inflation. Ireland and Italy have also reduced public transport fares for certain groups, such as young adults, students and workers.

One ​​limitation: this does not would not be particularly effective in rural areas that don't have robust public transportation.

ImageTrain passengers in Copenhagen can board bicycles.Credit...Charlotte de la Fuente for The New York Times