Spain's Initiative - 31 measures to save energy

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Spain's Minister of Industry and Energy, Miguel Sebastián, has introduced a set of measures to save energy, most of which affect cars and the way they're driven. These are expected to save 43 to 47 million barrels from being imported into Spain by 2011, not only for economic reasons but also because the country is becoming one of Europe's most polluting. Regarding transport, the measures are as follows:

* Stimulating the introduction and production of electric vehicles (he's surely heard Mr. Brown).
* The administration will only be able to purchase energy-efficient vehicles.
* All public vehicles to use 20-percent biofuel by 2009.
* Instead of a global requirement for biofuel blending, the total amount of biofuel to be used in 2010 is set be 5.83 percent.
* A plan to renew cars older than 15 years.
* Reduce speeds around cities by 20 percent. This is has been tested in Barcelona (and Rotterdam) for a while, and it's been discussed for the U. S as well.
* A massive advertising campaign on fuel-efficient driving, including fuel-saving questions for drivers' license tests.
* Investment in "sustainable urban mobility."
* Stimulating the use of bicycles in urban and suburban environments.
* Conditioning the nation's subsides on mass transit according to environmental parameters. For instance, no private companies in charge of bus lines will get money if they use old vehicles.
* All commuter train, subway and light railway lines to have complete cell phone coverage.
* Having all mass transit working on weekends and weekend nights
* Creating exclusive HOV lanes for public transport on highways.
* Creating and modifying bus lines adapted to commuting needs, so workers do not rely on private cars to go to work.
* Allowing the use of defense air reserved areas for commercial airplanes to reduce route distance.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/31/hands-on-spain-to-promote-31-measures-to-save-energy-and-makes/

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1. Here's the full list

These are translated from the original Spanish article:

http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/402912/0/sebastian/ahorro/energia/

Measures cross:

* Promote energy service companies.
* Doubling the budget of the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy.
* Benefits in the procurement process for companies accredited energy, with the certificate AENOR.
* Signing an agreement with the Council of Consumers and Users to conduct training and information campaigns.

Transport:

* A pilot project for the introduction of electric vehicles.
* The State General Administration of a premium on hiring vehicles energy efficiency class A.
* Will be introduced as a mandatory requirement for public vehicle fleets 20% of biofuels in 2009.
* Developments will be sought to meet the 5.83% consumption of automotive fuels by 2010.
* Renew nearly 240,000 vehicles with the old plan vivo.
* It will force manufacturers to report on vehicle emissions and consumption to customers, through a comparative energy label.
* Reduce speed limits by 20% on average in access to big cities, ring roads and high capacity.
* Information campaigns on efficient driving techniques.
* It will seek financing plans to take more sustainable urban mobility.
* To be incorporated energy criteria for determining the contribution of the Government to public transport in the municipality.
* It will require coverage of mobile networks in all metro Spanish.
* Agree measures to extend the subway schedule during weekends.
* Urban transport will be promoted by bicycle.
* For large cities will be created lanes reserved for the transport of passengers (BUS-VAO).
* Plans mobility of workers by establishing bus routes depending on the domicile of workers for establishments with more than 100 workers.
* It will optimise air routes using the airspace of Defense which will reduce some routes.

Saving energy in buildings:

* Limiting temperature inside the air-conditioned non-residential buildings, excluding hospitals. They may not lose 26 degrees in summer nor exceed 21 in winter.
* To be set aside a portion of the 500 million euros Plan Renove tourism infrastructure investments to promote energy saving.
* Require that new buildings of the State General Administration reached a high energy rating.

Cost-saving measures electrical:

* Tries to advance the complete elimination of the market for low-efficiency light bulbs to 2012.
* To be distributed gift vouchers in the bill for the light bulb to acquire a low consumption for each household by 2009 and another for 2010.
* Regalarán 6 million of these bulbs through a programme to replace 2x1 voluntary incandescent bulbs.
* Require that buildings of the State General Administration reduce their consumption by 10%.
* Improving the effectiveness of street lighting facilities.
* Reduce by 50% energy consumption in the lighting of highways and motorways.
* It will drive a standard to enable urban and interurban railway companies offset their electricity bills recovered by braking.
* It will decrease the losses in transmission and distribution of electricity.