Roberta Barone, a Berlin-based data ethics expert, now takes a full shower just three times a week. On other days, she settles for quicker dips under the water. With the prospect of a heating crisis this winter, cutting down on her bathing time made sense. “Faster and less frequent showers are not a problem,” she told OZY.

According to a local consumer awareness group, an average shower — at room temperature — consumes about 3kwh of power, costs about $1 in energy and emits 2.8 pounds of CO2. Recent surveys have suggested that the average German shower lasts about 10 minutes.

Earlier this summer, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck asked citizens to halve shower times. Barone acknowledged that personal contributions like hers aren’t a long-term solution but said they still help society confront its wastefulness.

Barone is also contemplating other ways she — and others who, like her, are single — can help. “Unlike families who have children in school and other people who can't telework, I am mobile and I wouldn't mind relocating for the winter,” she said. “That's one less apartment you need to heat in Berlin.” But there’s one more factor she must consider before relocating: “I should check first the energy needs related to the flight.”

The argument is simple: Teleworking from EU countries that don’t require heating over the winter could be a pleasant way to consume less energy and save on bills. “I think that a one-size-fits-all approach does not actually exist, but the point is that we should all try to give our modest contribution,” Barone said.

How Germany handles its energy shortage and transition away from its dependence on Russia will have political implications. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who took office in December 2021, is battling a slump in popularity. A recent poll showed that 62% of Germans are unhappy with his tenure, and 65% are dissatisfied with the current government.

By contrast, Habeck routinely polls highly among German politicians. Are his proactive moves on energy — even if largely symbolic — responsible, at least in part? Habeck recently said that his ministry would keep its few air conditioning systems off despite unusually intense heat this month. Only a tiny minority of German households — 3.1% in 2015 — have an AC, so Habeck’s decision is meant mostly to set an example of how communities and individuals can contribute.

And, like Barone, many around Germany are responding.

Hanover has banned hot showers at gyms, swimming pools and public buildings. Cologne’s cathedral — Germany’s most-visited tourist location — won’t be lit up at night. A housing cooperative in Dippoldiswalde, a small town in Saxony, recently informed its tenants that they would now receive hot water only in the early morning, at midday and in the evening. Germany's largest real estate group, Vonovia, has announced that it will be cutting back on heating in the fall and winter, reducing the temperature of central heating between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. And a forest owner in the country’s east has offered wood chips from his trees to help nearby residents heat their homes during the coming winter.

Many Germans are turning to heat pumps, but the strong demand has left manufacturers struggling to deliver adequate supplies.

DIY solutions remain an option. Karolina Attspodina, a Germany-based Ukrainian businesswoman, founded We Do Solar in July 2021. This Berlin-based startup developed a solar panel set for balconies. People can install the set with weatherproof straps and plug it directly into the power socket. The system does not require professionals, and We Do Solar says it can help households save up to 25% on their electricity bills.

Millions of Germans are also choosing electricity over gas. A survey conducted by the price comparison portal Verivox in early August shows that 30% of households are considering purchasing electric heating appliances. In other words, 12 million homes are ready to decrease gas consumption and increase electricity usage. But a switch from gas to electricity might not be that efficient, as electricity is produced partly from gas and, for the time being, gas remains cheaper than electricity.

Still, these initiatives are another sign of growing awareness: German consumers know that the clock is ticking.