Cold showers and no lights: How one German city is fighting Russia's energy battle

Berlin, London (CNN Business)- The German city of Hanover has banned hot water in public buildings and has introduced measures to reduce heating and energy usage as Europe faces a potential natural gas crisis this winter.

"Every kilowatt-hour saved saves the gas storage tanks," said the mayor's office in a news release on Wednesday.

It's the first city in Germany to switch to cold showers in public buildings, making hot water unavailable for handwashing and other uses in government facilities, gyms, and swimming pools.

The city, located in the country's northwest, will also reduce heating in public buildings, as well as stop lighting up public buildings during the evenings. Hanover will also turn off public fountains.

"The goal is to reduce our energy consumption by 15%," said Mayor Belit Onay. "This is a response to the looming gas shortage, which is a big challenge for municipalities — especially for a big city like Hanover."

"The situation is unpredictable, as just the last few days have shown," he added. "Nevertheless, the state capital is trying to prepare as best it can."

Across the European Union, member states are scrambling to save gas and store it for winter, and on Tuesday, energy ministers agreed in principle to cut gas use by 15% from August to March. The bloc has tried to rapidly wind down its imports of Russian gas since Moscow invaded Ukraine in late February, and has pledged to break its dependence completely by 2027.