Spain to ban air conditioning from dropping below 27°C

airconditioning thermostat showing 27 degrees Celsius (spain)
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Spain’s government has moved to prevent offices, shops and other venues from setting air conditioning below 27°C in the summer as part of its plan to cut the country’s dependence on Russian gas, according to EuroNews.

The move will also stop heating from being raised above 19°C during the winter. The rules will be mandatory in all public and commercial buildings, including bars, cinemas, theatres, airports and train stations but will be a recommendation only for households.

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“Right now, perhaps suggested by the heat wave we are experiencing, I would say that with 27 degrees we will be very hot,” university worker Andrea Castillo told Euronews.

“Perhaps we could work at 25 degrees, but not at 27.”

Civil servant Laura Berge also questioned the practicality of the measure. 

“Generally speaking, you can work at 27 degrees, but to reach that temperature in hot areas, you need to put the air conditioner at 22 or 23 degrees for a couple of hours, so I am worried that it will not be allowed to exceed 27 degrees at any time,” she told Euronews

“In that case, the air would have to be turned on well in advance and it would be counterproductive in terms of energy savings.”

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Spain’s ecological transition minister Teresa Ribera said the measures, which include switching off store window lights after 10pm, would initially be maintained until November 2023.

She encouraged households to join the cuts, saying it would not only reduce consumption levels but also bring down energy bills.

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