Ribera believes that it will not be cold at home in winter and appeals to individual contribution

Invites a "cautious driving" that saves fuel without the need for an express limitation of speed

MATAPOZULEOS (VALLADOLID), 1 Aug. (EUROPE PRESS) -

The Third Vice President of the Government and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, explained that Spaniards "will not be cold" at home during the winter and has appealed to the individual contribution that each citizen can make to save energy.

During a visit to the town of Matapozuelos in Valladolid, hours before the Council of Ministers meets to approve a package of urgent energy saving measures, Ribera insisted that the "most important" message is that "in such a complicated context it is about "helping the neighbors of the European Union" and "how to avoid the risk of rationing".

Although the package of measures that the Council of Ministers will approve this Monday will focus on energy savings in public buildings, the vice president stressed that it is a first step towards a "much more complete and strategic" plan for the country as a whole which will be presented in September. "What we do today above all has to do with what things are relatively simple and can be applied immediately," she said.

In any case, the person in charge for the Ecological Transition has stressed that a situation of supply cut is not contemplated and has defended that it is not so much a matter of emphasizing what is mandatory, but rather that in a situation like this "it is reasonable and positive" to contribute what each one can in their "daily behavior".

In addition, he has assured that he believes that the Spanish "are not going to be cold" in their homes next winter, since Spain does not present the problems that do occur in other countries of Eastern and Northern Europe. "In our case, supply is guaranteed, we have a different profile, but it is important to insist on the call so that we can contribute to the extent that we can," stressed Teresa Ribera, who has advocated making thermal comfort measures compatible with "intelligent and efficient" of an energy resource that can make it easier for neighboring countries to access what is not consumed here, something that can happen in winter, he exemplified, by wearing "a comfortable sweater or a coat".

In this objective, the vice president has defended the importance of the collaboration of all the administrations and the private sector, on which she has defended that the conversations held with the employers for the application of these measures have had a "positive" reception.

"That does not mean that I agree, but I would like to emphasize that there is a vast majority of people and institutions that understand and want to contribute to what should be a collective effort," Ribera added.

Lastly, the vice-president referred to the possibility of reducing speed on dual carriageways and motorways as an energy-saving measure to recall that this is not a tool that is going to be discussed in this Council of Ministers, but that although there is no "express limitation", "cautious driving" contributes to a reduction in fuel needs.

"Just as changing a degree in the thermostat can lead to a seven percent reduction in consumption, a reduction in speed can also lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption.