In Spain several “urgent” energy saving measures come into force this Wednesday, including shop windows without night lighting and air conditioning at 27 degrees in summer in public and commercial spaces.
According to Spanish newspapers, the measures announced by the Spanish government at the beginning of the month began to be implemented hours ahead of schedule, on Tuesday. At 10:00 p.m., in Madrid, the windows of several stores were already off. And the same was true of many public buildings.
The “energy saving shock plan” decided by the Government also determines that, in summer, the air conditioners do not stay below 27 degrees and that, in winter, the heating does not exceed 19 degrees.
All spaces with direct entry from the street have until September 30 to install a system of doors that remain closed when no one enters or leaves.
In addition, they have until September 2 to publish information on the interior temperature and the measures taken to save energy.
These energy saving measures cover official and public administration buildings, commercial spaces, hotels and restaurants, cultural spaces (such as cinemas, theaters, museums or auditoriums), train, bus or metro stations and airports.
The decree provides exceptions for the air conditioning and heating of spaces such as restaurant kitchens, gyms, hairdressers, hospitals, nursing homes or laboratories.
The plan has sparked controversy in Spain, with autonomous communities led by the Popular Party calling for the measures not to be put into practice. The newspaper El País also writes that the Madrid City Council has prepared an appeal to present before the Constitutional Court.
The measures will be in force until November 2023 and are a first package, which will integrate a more complete plan for the reduction and efficiency in energy consumption that the Spanish Government intends to approve after the summer.
In Portugal, the government is expected to make a similar decision at the end of the month. This Tuesday, news broke of an alleged agreement between António Costa and Pedro Sánchez to apply, on this side of the border, measures similar to those that are now taking effect in Spain to combat the energy crisis.
Source: TSF
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
