The energy crisis and pressure to reduce consumption following the invasion of Ukraine have driven further demand cuts as EU institutions join efforts to cut energy use and emissions.

The European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the EU have been trying to reduce their environmental footprint for years – but the past year’s energy crisis has driven them to introduce new measures to cut demand quickly, the three institutions told Euractiv.

“In the light of recent energy price increases linked to the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine, energy savings and energy independence have become even more important and pressing,” the Parliament’s press service said.

Meanwhile, the Council of the EU, which represents the bloc’s 27 member states, has reduced the heating of its offices to 19°C, the Justus Lipsius building’s atrium to 16°C and the Europa building’s forum to 14°C. During the summer, the temperature to trigger the air conditioning will be increased to 27°C.

In the Council, these measures are coordinated by the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC), an administrative support body.

“The GSC is eager to play its part too. Modifying the climate-control temperatures in its buildings in both winter and summer is one step taken by the Council to reduce energy consumption,” the Council says on its website.

Since mid-2021, the European Commission has also rolled out new measures, including reducing the heating temperature of its buildings by 2°C in winter and increasing the cooling temperature by 2°C to 25°C.