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> lead to quite a bit of civil hardship and even death next winter. Death? Hardly. Most German homes are well isolated and can be heated quite efficiently. If
by periheli0n 5y ago
> lead to quite a bit of civil hardship and even death next winter.
Death? Hardly. Most German homes are well isolated and can be heated quite efficiently. If gas cuts out one can use an electric stove. Same for cooking, one can use an electric hob.
So hardship—yes, especially for the poorest living in undermaintained homes and no resources to upgrade. Germany will certainly put in support programmes for those affected.
- elric 5y ago> If gas cuts out one can use an electric stove. That statement seems to conveniently ignore the reality of how electricity is generated and how much of it is available. Cut off the gas supply without adequate notice, and the power grid will fail.
- periheli0n 5y agoIn practice there will be gas rationing. By the way, is the German power grid really reliant on gas to such an extent?
- admax88qqq 5y agoIt's not that the grid is reliant on gas, it's that if people switch from gas to electric for heat quickly, the grid might not be able to handle the sudden extra load.
- periheli0n 5y agoEither way, it is known how much gas is available. It can also be estimated fairly reliably how much gas will be used a couple of days in advance, given the weather forecast. Therefore a gas shortage will be known in advance, and contingency measures will be taken, both for gas and electricity.
- emteycz 5y agoGermany is the richest affected country. There will be deaths in the eastern EU if this is done without massive western financial support, any COVID-related budget will be dwarfed 100x by what is needed for this, no eastern state has nearly enough money for it even if they dedicated their entire budget.
- rr808 5y agoEastern Europe has its own coal resources and coal heating is widespread. It isn't good for the emissions wise but it wont freeze.