Spain to reduce speed limit

[cedric]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/30/energyefficiency.travelandtransport

pain has launched an ambitious plan to reduce energy consumption and save millions of euros on oil imports by cutting the speed limit to 50mph and handing out millions of low-energy use light bulbs.

With the introduction of a broad swathe of measures between now and 2014, Spain's socialist government hopes to reduce Spain's oil imports by 10% per year, cutting consumption by 44m barrels and saving €4.14bn (£3.25bn).

During the country's sweltering summers, air conditioning systems in public buildings will be set no lower than 26C (79F). In winter, Spaniards will be allowed to turn the heating no higher than 21C (70F), with hospitals being the only exception.

Street lighting is to be reduced by up to 50% and the metro system in many cities will stay open later at weekends to encourage people to leave the cars at home. The government is also to introduce a pilot project for the manufacture of 1m electric or hybrid cars.

All Spanish government vehicles are to meet at least 20% of their energy needs through biofuels.

And in an unprecedented move, commercial airlines will be able to use military air routes to make journeys 20% shorter. The comes after Ryanair and easyJet announced they are to cut routes to Spain, blaming rising fuel costs.

Among European countries Spain has the highest dependency on fossil fuels, which meet 84% of its energy needs. In the past year, Spain spent €17bn importing oil.

The rising price of oil has led to inflationary pressures and caused the country's trade deficit to balloon by 13% this year to €42.8bn.

The €245m energy plan was unveiled by industry minister Miguel Sebastián, and in an effort to encourage Spaniards to be more energy conscious, the minister borrowed a phrase from JFK.

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

The speed limit will be cut on dual carriageways outside major cities by 20%, bringing it in line with Barcelona, which has already set a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).

"Every time we lift our feet off the accelerator, we are improving GDP and employment," Sebastián said. "The era of cheap energy has passed."

But a straw poll of Spanish motorists conducted by Spanish television channel Telecinco found gas guzzlers proved to be in the majority.

Manolo, from Madrid, said: "Tell the minister that things are just fine as they are. We don't want to cut our speed. People would be honking their horns all the time if they had to go that slow."

Sebastián recently created a stir when he appeared in parliament without a tie in an effort to encourage deputies to cut the air conditioning bill and save energy. He was ordered by the speaker to dress properly.

The government will hand out 49m free energy-saving light bulbs – two for each household – to try to convince Spaniards to reduce energy bills. By 2012, all light bulbs are expected to be low-energy.

[tinrobot]

1. Spain is sure setting the example

Solar, wind, electric cars... they're sure on the right path.

[Selatius]

2. If Spain wants to get really ambitious, they should levy a luxury tax on buying new cars.

Then funnel the revenue towards constructing light rail to connect small towns to cities, bullet trains to connect major cities to each other, and bus fleets to catch everybody else. It would lower gridlock and get the country away from dependence on oil. It's what France and Germany essentially did.

[tinrobot]

3. Actually, they're buying up old cars and replacing them with more efficient cars.

If it's older than 15 years, they want it off the road.

In addition, they're putting lots of money into mass transit and bicycle infrastructure.