Spain turns down the air conditioning to save power


Spaniards and holidaymakers sweltering in the summer heat might not be too impressed, but desperate times — and a deep recession — call for desperate measures. The Spanish Cabinet agreed yesterday to reduce energy consumption by limiting the use of air conditioning.

Madrid has decided to establish minimum and maximum temperatures for public buildings and thus shops, bars, airports, cinemas, railway stations and airports cannot be cooled below 26C (79F) in summer. During winter, moreover, heaters cannot be turned up above 21C.

The Economic Sustainability Law is designed to reduce Spain's overreliance on imported energy, but this may not figure highly in the priorities of anyone gasping for breath in August.

It is not the only new direction taken by Spain as it seeks a path to better economic times: under new rules, banks and all publicly listed companies will have to disclose how much they pay their leading executives. Elena Salgado, the Economy Minister, said: "There will be more transparency, particularly in terms of top executives' pay." Shareholders should vote on executive pay at banks and listed companies at annual shareholder meetings, she said.
Spaniards and holidaymakers sweltering in the summer heat might not be too impressed, but desperate times — and a deep recession — call for desperate measures. The Spanish Cabinet agreed yesterday to reduce energy consumption by limiting the use of air conditioning.

Madrid has decided to establish minimum and maximum temperatures for public buildings and thus shops, bars, airports, cinemas, railway stations and airports cannot be cooled below 26C (79F) in summer. During winter, moreover, heaters cannot be turned up above 21C.

The Economic Sustainability Law is designed to reduce Spain's overreliance on imported energy, but this may not figure highly in the priorities of anyone gasping for breath in August.

It is not the only new direction taken by Spain as it seeks a path to better economic times: under new rules, banks and all publicly listed companies will have to disclose how much they pay their leading executives. Elena Salgado, the Economy Minister, said: "There will be more transparency, particularly in terms of top executives' pay." Shareholders should vote on executive pay at banks and listed companies at annual shareholder meetings, she said.

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