BARCELONA: As Europeans battle sweltering temperatures and rising energy prices, Spain adopted a rule mandating that air conditioning be set at or above 27 degrees Celsius in public areas, including offices, shops, bars, theaters, airports, and train stations.
The decree was published in the official state gazette and is scheduled to go into effect next week.
The rules include maintaining heating at or below 19 degrees Celsius in the winter and will remain in place at least through November 2023, The Verge reported.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has stated publicly that the country urgently needs to save energy, even encouraging office workers to remove their ties to help stay cool without artificial assistance. "I have asked the ministers and public and private sector bosses not to wear ties unless it is necessary, " he was quoted as saying at a press conference last week.
As per the report, the European countries are scrambling to untangle twin problems; scorching heat that is driving up energy demand and political conflict that's complicating energy supplies.
Nations, including Spain, are facing increasing pressure not to rely on gas supplied by Russia amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to the media reports, Greece and Italy announced measures last month to similarly restrict energy use when cooling public buildings, requiring air conditioning to be set to 27 degrees Celsius or higher.
France has ordered public premises to set thermostats higher in the summer and lower in the winter and will fine air-conditioned businesses 750 euros ($764 approx) if they leave their doors open. The city of Hanover, Germany, has banned the use of mobile air conditioning units and fan heaters everywhere other than in hospitals and schools.
However, the Madrid region president Isabel Diaz Ayuso tweeted, "Madrid isn't going to switch off. This generates insecurity and scares away tourism and consumption".