New, energy-saving laws could leave Brits in a sticky situation
There’ll be no escaping the heat for Brits heading to Spain for a summer getaway, as new laws will restrict how cold venues can have their air-con.
Shops, offices and hospitality venues won’t be allowed to set their cooling systems below 27C throughout the summer months, in a bid to save energy.
On the flip side, those flocking to Spain for a winter break could also struggle to stay at the perfect temperature, given that venues won’t be allowed to have the heating on above 19C under the new regulations.
So, hand fans and blankets at the ready.
Ecological transition minister Teresa Ribera is keen to crack down of energy use in Spain, so will ensure shop doors are kept closed, store window lights are turned off after 10pm, and heating systems are checked more often to boost efficiency.
The Spanish government hopes to reduce its gas consumption by seven per cent, in line with an EU-wide agreement to limit dependency on Russian gas.
Announcing the new measures last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said: “You just need to walk into a shopping mall to realise that maybe the temperature is set too low.”
The measures will initially be in force until 2023.
Spain recorded two heatwaves in July alone, with temperatures reaching a record 45.6C in Almonte, and a third heatwave warning was issued by the Spanish Meteorological Agency on Tuesday.
Firefighters battled against huge wildfires which saw thousands evacuated from their homes across Europe last month, and at least 500 deaths were linked to the extremely high temperatures in Spain, BBC reported in July.
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