Air conditioning in public buildings in Spain must be limited in the summer, according to new rules published on Thursday as part of measures to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.
Air conditioning in offices must not be lower than 27°C during the hottest months of the year, according to a government decree on energy efficiency.
Temperatures often exceed 40°C in summer throughout Spain.
During the winter, the offices will not be heated above a maximum of 19ºC.
These measures will be applied “when technically possible”, specifies the decree.
The decree provides for increased use of teleworking for civil servants, increased use of low-energy lighting and the massive installation of solar panels on the roofs of public buildings.
The plan, part of a European Union-wide effort to reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas, calls for more bike racks to be installed in government offices to encourage civil servants to cycle to work.
The European Commission published on Tuesday its intention to reduce the European Union’s dependence on Russian gas by two thirds this year and to end its dependence on Russian fuel supplies by 2030.
In April, Italy also announced plans to reduce air conditioning in public buildings to save energy this summer.