My First Month of Trying to Save Energie – And Why It’s Harder Than I Thought

Okay, so I’ve been in Berlin for about a month now, working as a freelance translator. It’s fantastic, the work is brilliant, and the city… well, it’s Berlin. But let’s be honest, adjusting to a new life, a new country, is hard. And one of the first things I realised wasn’t just the language barrier – although that’s a beast in itself – it was the whole “Energiesparen” thing. Everyone talks about it, but actually doing it? That’s a different story.

The Initial Confusion: “Energiesparen” and My Heating Bill

The first few weeks were a blur of “Was ist Energiesparen?” (What is energy saving?). I kept hearing it everywhere – on the news, in the supermarket, even my colleagues were talking about it at work. Apparently, it’s a HUGE deal in Germany. My flatmate, Luke, explained that because of the cold winters and our reliance on natural gas, everyone is supposed to be super conscious of how much energy they’re using.

I asked him, “Aber warum ist Energiesparen so wichtig?” (But why is energy saving so important?). He just shrugged and said, “Weil es teuer ist!” (Because it’s expensive!). Which, okay, fair enough. But I didn’t really get it. I was turning the heating up when I was cold, and generally just living my life.

My First Conversation – And the “Ja, aber…” (Yes, but…)

Then, I needed to talk to my landlord, Herr Schmidt, about the heating. It was freezing! I knocked on his door and, trying to be polite, said, “Herr Schmidt, die Heizung ist zu niedrig. Ich finde es kalt.” (Mr. Schmidt, the heating is too low. I find it cold.)

His response was a classic “Ja, aber…” (Yes, but…). “Ja, aber wir müssen die Energie sparen!” (Yes, but we need to save energy!). He explained that the thermostat was set to 18 degrees Celsius – apparently, that’s the ‘recommended’ temperature for energy efficiency. 18 degrees! I felt like I was living in an igloo! I tried to explain that I was used to a warmer house, but he just kept repeating about the energy costs. It was frustrating!

Useful Phrases for Talking About Energy

Here’s a list of phrases I’ve found really useful (and that Luke and Herr Schmidt used):

• Die Heizung ist zu kalt/warm. (The heating is too cold/warm.)
• Ich möchte die Temperatur erhöhen/verringern. (I would like to increase/reduce the temperature.)
• Kann ich die Thermostat anpassen? (Can I adjust the thermostat?)
• Wir müssen Energiesparen. (We need to save energy.)
• Es ist sehr teuer, wenn wir viel Energie verbrauchen. (It’s very expensive if we consume a lot of energy.)
• Ich bin neu hier, ich bin nicht so erfahren mit Energiesparen. (I’m new here, I’m not so experienced with energy saving.) – Useful to explain you’re a newcomer!

Little Changes, Big Impact (Maybe?)

I’ve started making some small changes – turning off lights when I leave a room, taking shorter showers, and trying to only use the washing machine when I have a full load. Luke suggested I get a smart thermostat to control the heating remotely. “Das wäre eine gute Idee!” (That would be a good idea!).

I’ve also been trying to be more aware of how much electricity I’m using. The meter is a little confusing, but I’m slowly getting the hang of it. I asked about it, and he explained it’s a “Stromzähler.” (Electricity meter)

A Mini-Disaster – The Lights

The other day, I was working late, really focused, and completely forgot to turn off the light. I was in the middle of a really important translation, and I felt this huge wave of guilt! Luke walked in and said, “Schalte das Licht aus! Du verbrauchst unnötig Strom!” (Turn off the light! You’re wasting unnecessary electricity!). He’s right, of course. It was a small mistake, but a good reminder.

Moving Forward – And Accepting the “Ja, aber…”

I think the biggest thing I’m learning is that “Energiesparen” isn’t just about turning down the heating; it’s about a whole shift in mindset. It’s about being more mindful of my consumption. I’m still struggling with the “Ja, aber…” (Yes, but…) attitude, and I’m starting to realise that it’s okay to have different preferences. Maybe Berlin just needs a little more warmth – both literally and figuratively! I’m going to keep learning, keep asking questions, and hopefully, become a slightly more energy-conscious tenant. Ich bin dabei! (I’m in!).