Today, August 10, the Government’s new energy plan comes into effect.
This means, among other things, that the lights must be turned off at 10 p.m. in all public buildings, in shopping centres, on monuments and so on. The use of air conditioning must be limited. They have set 27 degrees as the temperature to which it must be cooled. When we get to winter, the thermostat must be set so that the rooms are a maximum of 19 degrees. This applies to all the public buildings, hotels, restaurants and other places.
The plan has not been received with enthusiasm everywhere. Several restaurants and hotels, for example, do not believe they can and will not comply with the temperature restrictions.
Some municipalities will not turn off the lights in their town either. They want the city to be presented properly, even in the dark times. Especially in places where there are many tourists, you don’t want to turn off the city lights.
However, a very well-known illuminated area here in the Alicante area follows the recommendation. It concerns the castle of Santa Barbara in Alicante. Here, the very beautiful lighting of the fortress will be turned off at 10 p.m.
The street lighting in the cities is not switched off as a rule. The current plan must apply until autumn 2023.
Private individuals are encouraged to follow it, but it is an invitation not a requirement.
