The exceptionally warm October weather means we are using less energy and that the exploding gas price falls a little. Heating is more often unavailable at home, which is good news for households on variable energy contracts. For them, the pleasant outside temperature saves cold and money.

“The favorable autumn weather certainly saves money,” says Martien Visser, Professor of Energy Transition at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences. According to him, an average household burns about half a cubic meter of gas per degree per day when it is colder than 17 degrees.

“An average house can now save about seven euros a day. And thanks to the warm autumn weather, you don’t have to do anything for that. It’s particularly nice because the upper limit for the gas price comes first.” So in January it’s still very expensive gas that households are saving.”

Russian gasoline

Visser examines data on our gas consumption and concludes that not only this week, but throughout October, the Dutch have used less than last year. “I see a decrease of almost 30 percent compared to the five years before. This applies to households, but also to small and medium-sized companies. They are reducing their consumption because of the prices, but I think that is bad for the environment and for dependency on Russian gas.”

According to NOS weather forecaster Gerrit Hiemstra, temperatures like this week are in line with the trend of an increasingly warmer climate. Visitors to the hardware store and thrift store in Amersfoort find it very easy on the wallet.

The energy expert expects this trend to continue, at least in the coming months. “In north-west Europe, the average temperature at which the heating is switched on is 17 degrees. I assume that this will now also decrease due to the energy crisis.”

necessities of life

Although gas consumption has fallen, Visser is not talking about a huge contraction. “I think that’s because it’s essential to life and we’ve already started to use less gas due to the increase in wind and solar power.”

There is not much relief among households, says Nibud spokeswoman Gabriella Bettonville. “Everything gets more expensive. Energy bills make up a small portion of all household expenses each month, and temperature plays a small role in that. Everything is a plus, but I don’t think the impact is really big.”

warmer climate

According to NOS weather forecaster Gerrit Hiemstra, temperatures like this week are in line with the trend of an increasingly warmer climate. All seasons are warming up and it will only continue that way, he says.

“Now we still find this heat exceptional, but in 10 to 20 years such weather will be more common and will therefore become an integral part of the Dutch climate. Even warmer extremes will also be part of it.”