Spain Makes Solar Panels a Must on New Buildings

[lovuian]

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/38965/story.htm

MADRID - Solar panels are now compulsory on all new and renovated buildings in Spain as part of the country's efforts to bring its building rules up to date and curb growing demand for energy, ministers said on Monday.


Until now Spain's building standards have dated from the 1970s and have done little in seeking to improve energy efficiency.
"We have to make up the time we have lost," Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said, inaugurating a seminar on the new technical building code.

The code will come into force fully next March but the energy saving element was implemented on Sept. 29.

This means new homes have to be equipped with solar panels to provide between 30 and 70 percent of their hot water, depending on where the building is located and on its expected water usage.


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Why can't we do this too...

[DaveJ]

1. Because all progress is deemed "socialist"

according to 25-49% if our gullible citizenry.

[Eurobabe]

2. That's a no freaking brainer! We commented that so many

southern European countries should make this mandatory. Like Malta, southern France, Italy -- all those that get lots of sunshine. So yeah, why can't the US adopt this? We had plenty of sunshine in central Virginia. Collect it and sell it as a coop! Now there's an idea!

[Erika]

3. The U.S. is grossly unaware of the need to go alternatives

W and his oilmen don't want the citizens to be aware. The more profits the oilmen make the more they like it. The hell with our environment or our pocketbooks. It's all about them and their profits is their concern.

[JCMach1]

4. Imagine a solar rooftop initiative just for all schools in the country

an average school uses almost $1million in utilities each year.

[aquart]

5. That's a country that's getting serious.

Genuinely serious funds a project to put it on the old building, too.

[shadowknows69]

6. How long until we're the technological joke of the developed world

Accept for our killing machines of course. We're always top of the line when it comes to those.

[izzie]

7. Odd we do not as it seems so smart.

Since we have become the 'greatest' I think we have for got how to think.

[Hieronymus]

8. Carter tried, and Reagan immediately removed solar panels ..

from the White House that Carter had installed.:eyes:

[lovuian]

9. kick

:kick:

[The2ndWheel]

10. Just makes no sense at all

"curb growing demand for energy"

"improve energy efficiency"

The latter will not curb the former. It will increase demand for energy though. Not that we can do much else.