Spain: new law on thermic solar energy

More than 52,000 inhabitants of Barcelona take a hot shower with water heated with thermic solar panels. This saves a lot of money and also contributes to the reduction of the emission of carbon dioxide. Such panels exist in 44% of the buildings built in Barcelona since 2000. But the modification of the Thermic Solar Ordinance last February now obliges all new buildings to have thermic panels also accounts for their mandatory maintenance and includes measures related to their architectonic integration. Up to now, this Ordinance has annually reduced the tons of carbon dioxide emitted in 4,372 and has also represented an annual saving of nearly 25,000 megawatts. The cost of solar plans has to be assumed by the housing owner and is about 1,000 Euro for a dwelling for four people. The Town council is also subsidising the installation of such panels in old buildings. www.ecodes.org