The Ukrainian war and the energy crisis: things to know

As shoulder season approaches (no, we’re not there yet – you should thank climate change for that…) many of you out there are beginning to plan their travels to Rome and Italy when the great crowds of tourists recede.

This year there is something new to keep in mind, and it’s the ongoing war in Ukraine, and how it’s affecting us as a country.

Of course you will be aware that many European nations buy gas from Russia, but some don’t know that part of it also comes from Ukraine itself. This means that a longer conflict is going to have continued effects on prices and availability of lots of goods, not just gas (and electricity, which cost is closely tied to that of gas and oil). And Italy is obviously involved.

Eastern Europe and Italy: a complicated situation

We’re no specialists, so forgive us for being simplistic in our explanations, however know that as a country we’re stocked up on energy, but in order to avoid having to buy more electricity or gas from abroad at inflated prices, we’re being asked to make some cuts to our typical intake of the above.

The current rules and what you can do

What this means to you as a guest during shoulder season in Rome is that there will be fewer allotted hours for heating apartments or hotels each day, and that heating systems will only be allowed to operate starting November 14 instead than November 1st – again, the weather is being extra generous so we won’t be particularly impacted by this decision.

Before the government or the mayor take any further decisions, though, we’re also asked to act responsibly and limit our electricity usage, whether through big household appliances (dishwashers, washing machines…), not to leave the A/C heating functionality on when going out, turning off any unneeded appliances (even power strips will do) and be careful about those running at the same time (example: toaster ovens and a hairdryers) so as to not overload the meters.

These particular tips extend to you, our guests: the current situation is unprecedented and we’re asked to some tweaks to our lifestyle. We understand it’s an inconvenience, but it’s a minor one compared to what’s happening to the people in Ukraine.

Some more tips for you from the locals

Of course, as you book one of our accommodations at From Home to Rome, you will find instructions and helpful notes on the current situation, as well as where to find the meter in your rental, or on how electricity and gas work in Italian houses. On top of those:

• Please try not to take very hot showers. A couple of degrees less go a long way and they don’t change anything to you!
• Did you know that the cost of electricity is lower before 7 AM and after 7PM? Be sure to load your dishwasher or washing machine between that time slot if you want to do your part.
• Whenever available, dimmer switches are a great way to save on electricity!
• Most A/C units have a heating functionality so make sure you use that too if you’re feeling cold (but also make sure you don’t accidentally trigger a power failure by turning on too many appliances along with those).

For any more information, do watch this space. At From Home to Home we are committed to giving you complete information and helping you however we can!