This summer struggles as Europeans with extreme heat and rising energy costs, Spain continues decree This week the requirement for air conditioning in public places to be at or above 27 °C (80 °F). The measure will apply to offices, shops, bars and restaurants, as well as public transport systems and transport hubs.
The guidelines also include keeping heating at or below 19 °C (66 °F) in winter.
The decree was part of a bill passed on Monday by the Spanish government to reduce the country’s gas consumption by 7%, in line with recent EU energy agreements. limit dependency On Russian gas.
Spanish Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera said shops would also be obliged to keep doors closed and that heating systems should be checked more frequently to increase efficiency under the new measures.
Measures include switching off store window lights after 10 pm, street lighting will not be affected.
“You just need to go to a shopping mall to realize that the temperature is too low,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said last week while announcing the new package.
Not all officials were on board with the changes. “Madrid doesn’t go out. It creates insecurity and scares tourism and consumption,” Madrid community president Isabel Diaz Ayuso wrote in a translated tweet on Monday.
Spain is not the only European country trying to combat energy use and costs. According to Guardian, France has asked businesses that use air conditioning to keep their doors closed or run the risk of being fined. Germany has banned the use of mobile air conditioning and fan heaters.
During a heat wave last month, Temperature recorded in Spain Maximum 43 °C (109 °F). According to Spain’s Carlos III Institute, which records temperature-related deaths daily, 360 deaths were attributed to high temperatures from July 10 to 15. This was compared to 27 temperature-related deaths in the past six days.
Spain is one of the hottest European countries in the summer months. Two heat waves have already hit the country this year and temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 Fahrenheit) for several days. The temperature is expected to rise again in the first week of August.
Spain is one of several European countries that have suffered major wildfires this summer, including France, Italy Portugal, Greece, Germany and the Czech Republic. The fire has forced thousands of people to move out.
Spain’s decree will remain in force until at least November 2023.
