What measures were in effect?
In 2009, the Government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero mandated limits on heating and cooling in public buildings. Heating was capped at 21 degrees Celsius in winter, while air conditioning was kept at a minimum of 27 degrees in summer, and doors had to be kept properly closed to prevent thermal leakage. This was part of the 2008-2011 energy saving and efficiency plan. The aim was to reduce energy imports and consumption in public spaces, and these measures were not intended to be temporary. Recently, the Sánchez Government lowered these thresholds, reducing heating from 21º to 19º and cooling from 27º to 26º, with renewables included for air conditioning when doors are open.
Which institutions does it affect?
The scope remains the same as it was in 2009. The affected buildings and facilities include administrative centers, shops, supermarkets, department stores, shopping malls, and similar venues; cultural spaces such as theatres, cinemas, auditoriums, convention centers, and exhibition halls; public performance venues and entertainment events; bars, restaurants, and cafés; and train stations, bus stations, and airports. If lights are turned off, this applies to shop windows and vacant public buildings, not monuments.
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In no case may the measure affect other facilities such as gyms, hairdressers, or nightclubs, or spaces like hotel rooms, hospitals, or nursing homes, which are protected even in the current emergency plan in case of power outages. Implementations will proceed only if safe working conditions are guaranteed. For example, the air conditioning of a restaurant kitchen will be considered carefully. As Teresa Ribera, Third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition, has stated on multiple occasions, this is not a barrier to saving energy where possible.
Since when?
Lights go off after 10 p.m., and the heating and air conditioning arrangements will be enacted over a seven-day period starting Tuesday, August 9. Signs informing organizations about the implementation of these measures should be placed within one month from September 2. The deadline to install an adequate door-closing system is September 30, though this provision has been in effect since 2009. The current update also extends the rules to workplaces that use renewable energy for air conditioning.
What happens if the measures are not followed?
Enforcement rests with the autonomous communities, which are expected to monitor compliance with the existing measures, including door-closing requirements and temperature limits of 21º for heating and 26º for cooling in workplaces. On the same day, a government building room was recorded at 26.5º, exceeding the current limit.
The Royal Decree Act makes penalties clear, with sanctions ranging from 60,000 euros to 100 million euros depending on severity. Minor offenses carry penalties that reflect proportionality, considering factors like intent, duration, and damage caused, and the amounts are subject to update by the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Oversight remains the responsibility of the autonomous communities, so penalties may vary by region. For example, Madrid has indicated it would not violate the measures, which suggests that supervision levels for private facilities could differ from public ones.