The Spanish government led by example Friday on energy waste, ordering pubic buildings to stick to a minimum summer temperature of 24 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). With much of Spain baking in rising summer temperatures that can surpass 40 degrees, the government is courting unpopularity by making people work under the restrictions. But Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said she felt obliged to set the right example as air-conditioning units munch large amounts of electricity.
"We want to set an example, so the government has decided to impose reasonable use of air-conditioning in public buildings.
"A temperature of 24 degrees is sufficient to maintain people's wellbeing and that will be the limit during the summer months," she said.
The minister also announced that an energy efficiency study was under way in an effort to cut around 30 percent of electricity use in public buildings.
There are regular surges of consumption across the summer in Spain as tens of thousands of buildings turn on the air conditioning across the country.
At the end of June, BTP Acciona announced it would turn up the heating in its offices by up to two Celsius between June 25 and September 15.
The construction group, which employs some 35,000 people, estimated it could save some five to 10 percent of its energy bill by doing so.
Source: Agence France-Presse
