UK Tourists Warned Of Forthcoming Energy-Saving Air Con Measures In Spain

British tourists have been warned about new energy-saving air con measures which will see limits on air conditioning and heating in Spain. 

The country is the latest in the EU to roll out plans which will help reduce its dependence on Russian oil and gas by seven per cent. Public buildings such as cinemas, theatres, shopping centres, rail stations and airports will implement the new limits in a week’s time.

The new rules will mean that heating will be limited to a maximum of 19°C while air conditioning must be above 27°C. Shops doors will also have to remain closed to stay energy efficient, and store windows and monuments must switch their lights off by 10pm.

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. [This] lays out a series of measures to save energy and use it more efficiently, which are urgent and necessary when it comes to reducing energy consumption in general, and reducing our dependence on energy outside the Spanish economy,” a decree published in the official state gazette said.

The measures will remain in force until November 2023.