An effort to reduce its energy consumption. Spain will encourage civil servants to work from home and limit air conditioning in public buildings, as part of Brussels’ demands to end Europe’s dependence on Russian gas. Under an “energy efficiency plan”, published Thursday, May 26 in the official journal, the thermostat of air conditioners should not be positioned below 27 degrees. In winter, the heating one cannot be positioned above 19 degrees.
These measures will apply whenever it is technically possible. The plan also provides for measures to encourage civil servants to use public transport for home-work journeys, as well as the strengthening of telework in the administration. State civil service employees will be able to carry out “three days of remote work for two days of face-to-face work”underlined the Minister of Public Service, Maria Jesus Montero, specifying that these measures applied “immediately”.
In May, the European Commission presented a 210 billion euro plan providing for the development of renewable energies and significant energy savings, in order to overcome “as soon as possible” imports of Russian gas in response to the war in Ukraine. Several Member States have already announced measures concerning public buildings, like Italy.
