Spain tightens aircon rules amid energy crisis

Policymakers are imposing stricter temperature limits on cooling systems during one of the hottest summers on record, offering the latest example of necessary compromise in the climate crisis era. 

Spain’s government has made the decision to restrict the use of air conditioning inside offices, shops, and other properties in a bid to reduce the country’s energy demands. This means systems can no longer be used for temperatures below 27C during summer months, with heaters in winter limited for use only when thermometers drop below 19C. 

It’s the latest chapter in an ongoing debate about appropriate use of cooling equipment in Spain, spurred on in part due to the soaring cost of energy across Europe, along with the global need to reduce consumption in the face of the climate crisis. However, the policies have met significant opposition from the public, and have now become law in the middle of a summer that has already seen the country face two heatwaves, with temperatures peaking at 45.6C in Almonte last month. 

Hospitals, universities, schools, kindergartens, and hairdressing salons are all exempt, with bars and restaurants only able to use their air conditioning when temperatures hit 25C. According to reports, this is to ensure staff working in roles that involve physical exercise – for example waiting on tables – are not exposed to impossible conditions. 

Already, the hospitality sector has voiced its opposition to the new laws, pointing to the fact that body heat contributes to temperatures, so setting limits based on atmospheric conditions does not take this into account. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for warmer venues to put customers off at a time when many businesses are still recovering from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In December, Washington State University published new research showing that heatwaves are seven times more likely today compared with the 1980s.