A new energy awareness campaign goes live this weekend.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan has called on the Irish public to reduce gas and electricity usage at peak times as the Government looks to cut down on the overall national energy drain. A new campaign will be launched this weekend, aiming to raise awareness regarding numerous actions that the average Irish citizen can take in order to save energy and the related costs thereof. The government drive will take the form of print, radio and social media advertisements. Teasing the campaign earlier this month, Minister Ryan proposed the practice of shorter showers in a bid to curb rising energy costs. That followed on from his suggestion in March that road users should drive less to conserve on fuel. Now, according to RTÉ News, Ryan has gone one step further – urging the public to cut down on energy usage specifically between the hours of 5pm and 7pm. Addressing a meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Thursday, the minister said that applying this action will have a positive knock-on effect in the form of sending less revenue to the Russian government. "It's a step in the efficiencies direction where we need to go anyway," he said, noting that countries cannot be "held to ransom" on energy supplies and costs as a result of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On the home front, Ryan said it's not just about the amount of energy consumed by people "but the timing" before pointing to the window of 5pm – 7pm as an opportunity to make a visible difference. Minister Ryan acknowledged that this is likely to resound as a "very difficult political message" and that he could be regarded as a "Scrooge-like character" as a result. Speaking on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 earlier this month, Ryan reiterated his stance that the Government "needs to do a lot more" to battle the current crisis. "Some of those measures will take time," he said. Minister Ryan spoke of the "need to focus on energy efficiency" and called on the public to play its part in helping others to save money. Asked about the prospect of shorter showers and less driving, Ryan said there will be a "variety of measures" announced as part of the upcoming campaign. Featured Image of Eamon Ryan via Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie