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Spain's government has ordered all businesses to turn down their air conditioners and shops to turn off their lights at night as the country scrambles to save energy ahead of this winter, reports the European edition of the American newspaper Politico.

Air conditioners cannot be turned below 27 degrees in summer and heating cannot exceed 19 degrees this winter, while shop windows must be turned off after 10 p.m., according to the decree passed on Monday.

Similar measures have already been introduced for public administration buildings, and for households they remain voluntary for the time being, given the BTA.

"The world is upside down, we have a war in Europe," Spain's environmental transition minister Teresa Ribera said on Tuesday.

"(These are) special efforts at an extraordinary time," she added, stressing that the measures were meant to show the country's "unity and solidarity" with its European partners.

Spain said the move would help the country meet its target of cutting gas consumption by 7 percent - in line with commitments made last week as part of a wider EU deal aimed at reducing the demand for gas before the winter against the background of the looming energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

Last week, EU energy ministers negotiated a deal that could mandate mandatory gas distribution across the bloc in the event of winter supply shortages - and for countries to voluntarily reduce gas demand by 15 percent by March.

Madrid opposed the Commission's original proposal, with Ribera leading a coalition of mostly southern European countries against the plan on the grounds that it did not adequately take into account different national energy mixes, trade ties and levels of dependence on Russian gas.

Unlike many other EU member states, Spain has limited dependence on Russian gas, with only 10.5 percent of its imports coming from there in 2020. Natural gas made up just under a quarter of Spain's energy mix in the same year year.

Monday's initiative gives businesses seven days to adapt to the new measures, which can be eased in cases of extreme temperatures and will be in place until November 2023. The government is also expected to launch a wider emergency energy plan and savings in September.

But not everyone is happy with the plans.

IMF urges Europe to shift energy costs to wealthier consumers

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid (the Spanish capital has provincial status) and a rising politician in the conservative Popular Party, said the law would not apply in the Spanish capital.

"Madrid will not close," she said.

"This law generates uncertainty and scares away tourism and consumption. It causes gloom, poverty and sadness."

savings

lighting and electricity