Gaps in compliance affect shops, public buildings, cultural sites, and hotels. The energy saving and efficiency plan approved by the government sets penalties for noncompliance, with fines reaching up to 60,000 euros for minor offenses, up to 6 million euros for more serious violations, and up to 100 million euros for very serious breaches.
Sources from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism indicated to Europa Press that sanctions will align with those outlined in the Regulation on Thermal Installations of Buildings (RITE), as defined in Articles 30 to 38 of Law No. 21. 1992, dated July 16, concerning administrative violations in industry.
In particular, the Official State Gazette approved by the Council of Ministers yesterday requires public buildings, commercial areas, transport infrastructures such as airports and railway and bus stations, cultural sites, and hotels to maintain air conditioning limits of 27 degrees Celsius in summer and 19 degrees Celsius in winter.
Public buildings and shop windows must turn off their lights at 10 pm.
Complementing RITE, this package of measures also demands that lighting be switched off in shop windows and public buildings when no one is present after 10 pm. Compliance must be achieved within seven days of notification.
For these initiatives, the application deadlines are set one week after publication in the Official State Gazette and will stay in force until 1 November 2023. Decorative facade lighting is to end by 22:00, with outdoor lighting rules applying only to public use buildings and not to ornamental displays such as seasonal lights.
Additionally, both structures and facilities must install automatic door locks by September 30 to prevent doors from remaining open and wasting energy by letting cold or hot air escape. Posters should be displayed in workplaces to explain the savings measures and to provide guidance about temperature and humidity levels.
The government caps air conditioning at 27 degrees for businesses, shops, and transport, and 19 degrees for heating.
Other precautions include the requirement for buildings that have followed the previous procedure before 1 January 2021 to submit an extraordinary inspection by 31 December 2022. This ensures that all buildings with significant air conditioning use have been reviewed in the past two years. The aim is to enable rapid emergency contracts to carry out energy improvement works in public administration buildings, with contracts completed within a month from their formalization.
Hospitals, training centers, gyms, and hairdressers
Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto emphasized that the rule is very limited and includes exceptions required to ensure adequate air conditioning in essential workplaces such as hospitals, training centers, gyms, hairdressers, and kitchens or restaurants. In a TV interview, Maroto reassured the public that exceptions exist to maintain suitable conditions for workers performing their duties. The standard clearly specifies circumstances in which workers must operate under an appropriate temperature while guaranteeing air conditioning for peak occupancy periods. The official noted that the standard was aligned with input from the industry, ensuring practical applicability while protecting worker comfort and energy efficiency.