CONCERNS ABOUT THE ENERGY CRISIS

How warm is it currently in your home? Do you know the standby power consumption of your electric devices? Or are you planning to invest in solar panels? Everyone deals with the energy crisis differently, but we are all affected by it. Mathieu Verjans and Bart Vannetelbosch, national secretaries at ACV, have noticed that people with higher incomes are also genuinely worried.

Have you turned down the heating at home?

Bart Vannetelbosch: “We have been energy-conscious for a long time for ecological reasons. But I have been more aware recently of the fact that we can choose to turn down the heating. Fewer and fewer people can make that choice. The number of people that I talk to who go to work every day and yet are forced to completely turn down the heating or have to take cold showers is increasing.

Mathieu Verjans: “With our wages, we can afford to turn our heating up again if we have people over. We may not go on holiday as much as we used to, but many people need to choose between heating or food because of the skyrocketing energy prices. Those choices are of a completely different order.”

Does this crisis really affect everyone?

Verjans: “I have noticed that people in all layers of society have similar worries. People in my personal network are also increasingly voicing their concerns. How much more are prices going to increase, how long will this crisis last? It affects every family’s budget, and the uncertainties about the future are mentally challenging.”

Vannetelbosch: “This situation does not only affect the lower classes or unemployed people. As a result, it has broken the taboo a bit: you don’t have to be afraid of being stigmatised, because many people are currently struggling to pay their bills.”

You can reduce your personal energy bill by investing in energy-efficient measures. Are the high gas and electricity prices giving the transition to sustainable energy a boost?

Verjans: “I have the impression that people who have the means to invest in such measures are increasingly doing so. This has a positive impact on the climate, but it exposes the inequality in our society at the same time. Those with higher wages often already live in better equipped and insulated houses. Although the energy prices affect everyone much more than before, they have a particularly significant impact on people with lower incomes.”

Vannetelbosch: “Moreover, they don’t have the same means to invest in solar panels, double glazing, extra insulation, etc. If you are struggling to pay your bills, taking out a loan feels too big a risk – even if it is almost interest-free.”

Verjans: “Investments in sustainable energy supply should therefore be made on a collective level. Instead of each citizen individually installing a geothermal installation or solar panels, social housing associations and local authorities could generate energy for an entire neighbourhood on a large scale.”

Will the social rates and subsidies not suffice?

Verjans: “Our governments have decided to distribute government support very broadly. And, of course, for those of us with a higher income, it is great to receive additional help. But you might wonder at the same time: is this money not better spent on those who really need it?

In addition, the social energy rates and all those compensations are still not automatically granted to those who are entitled to them. And energy companies continue to make huge profits. By skimming off those profits, the government can guarantee a basic purchase of gas and electricity for lower and middle incomes.

Vannetelbosch: “On top of that, our governments should invest more in sustainable and local energy production. In Belgium, we are too dependent on the import of oil and natural gas, often from countries with undemocratic regimes. Only when we produce enough energy here, from renewable sources, will we be able to control the price fluctuations in the energy market. And everyone will benefit from it. The government too, as they will have to interfere less.”

And which role do companies play in this regard?

Vannetelbosch: “The high energy prices are currently making things difficult for every employee and every company. So, in the short term, we need to make sure people can continue to pay their bills and the economy keeps running. But we cannot forget that the ecological transition is also necessary. Both for our planet and our wallet.”

Verjans: “Renewable energy is the way forward, no matter how difficult it is. The transition should also happen in a fair way and offer perspective for everyone. That is why it is crucial that companies take steps in that direction on time. What investments are needed? What does the transition mean to employees? This should be addressed in the social dialogue, but as an employee, you can ask questions about this within your company. We all need to keep our finger on the pulse, because it concerns us all.”