The Federal Energy Saving Ordinance ended in April. As a result, the Giessen pools will reopen the sauna in the Ringallee bathing centre two days a week from 9 May for the time being.
Good news for sauna fans: after a break of more than ten months, Giessen's public baths are heating up the sauna area in the Ringallee bathing centre again. "We are delighted to be able to welcome our sauna guests two days a week for the time being. On Tuesdays, we will open the ladies' sauna between 12 noon and 8 p.m. and the mixed sauna on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.," explains Uwe Volbrecht, head of the Giessen baths. This is made possible by the end of the energy-saving ordinance for local authorities and municipal companies, which the federal government issued last year due to the threat of a gas shortage in winter following the start of the war in Ukraine.
Saving gas still important
As a responsible, regional energy service provider, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) and its companies responded to the German government's call at the beginning of July 2022 to save energy and thus counteract the gas crisis. This also affected the Giessen swimming pools, which completely closed the sauna in the Ringallee indoor pool, among other things. This was preceded by the entry into force of the so-called alarm level of the gas emergency plan, which is currently still in force. Fortunately, the feared and quite realistic scenario of a gas shortage in winter did not materialise - the gas storage facilities were historically well filled at the beginning of May at just under 68 percent. Uwe Volbrecht comments: "The current situation makes us cautiously optimistic. We would therefore like to make our sauna guests an initial - albeit still limited - offer. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation. Because with a view to the coming winter, a possible gas shortage is still conceivable for us." The Hessian state government takes a similar view and, despite the cancellation of the Energy Saving Ordinance, continues to call on people to remain cautious with their gas consumption.
Big savings
With the closure of the sauna alone, the Giessen pools have made an important contribution to the federal government's energy-saving target. The result: just under 70,000 kilowatt hours less gas, 48,500 kilowatt hours less electricity and a good 2,000 cubic metres less water in this area alone. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sauna guests once again for their understanding," says Uwe Volbrecht.
Prices have risen slightly
The only fly in the ointment: due to the sharp rise in energy costs, the Giessen pools have had to slightly increase the prices for sauna visits together with the admission prices for the pools. The one-hour rate now costs 5.30 euros, reduced rate 4.80 euros. A ten-ticket will cost 190.80 euros, reduced 172.80 euros.
Further, up-to-date information is available on the Internet at: www.giessener-baeder.de or at facebook.com/giessenerbaeder