Mit Suffizienz zur Energiewende

Besides switching to renewable energies, it is necessary to reduce absolute energy consumption in order to realise the energy transition in Germany. Sufficiency is a central strategy for this, but it has been underrepresented so far. The sufficiency strategy aims to reduce the environmental impact of human consumption of energy and resources as well as greenhouse gas emissions to a sustainable level. Individuals can achieve reductions on the one hand by reducing their own level of consumption, for example in the areas of housing, mobility, nutrition or leisure, and on the other hand through a commitment to sufficiency at their workplace or in civil society organisations and contexts.

This study explores how energy cooperatives can promote sufficiency in households. Energy cooperatives are promising multipliers for sufficiency. As actors in the energy industry, they aim for decentralised, environmentally friendly energy production. They create acceptance, involve citizens and are thus a driving force of the energy transition. The study shows which communicative strategies energy cooperatives already use to promote sufficiency and which others they could potentially use in the future.