While unions denounce chronic lack of maintenance, public and private companies are seeking solutions to prevent the heat from disrupting citizens' daily lives. Experts, for their part, remind us that small changes at home can make a significant difference in both comfort and electricity bills. Below, we review the main air conditioning hotspots in Spain this July.
Train breakdowns in Valencia due to the heat
Renfe's commuter trains and Metrovalencia's commuter rail service have been experiencing frequent problems with their cooling systems since the start of summer. Official sources at Renfe acknowledge that the units, located on the roofs of the carriages, overheat in the extreme temperatures and shut down automatically as a safety measure. The problem is exacerbated by the trains' frequent stops , which prevent the interior from reaching a suitable temperature between stations. On the C1 line, which connects Gandia and Valencia, up to 24 stops are recorded per hour, and each time the doors open, cool air escapes while the heat from the street enters.
The CCOO union criticizes Renfe's management, asserting that the breakdowns are not isolated incidents but a structural problem that recurs every year. The union denounces the company's failure to implement effective measures despite repeated complaints from workers. At Metrovalencia, the UGT union also questions the official version that there are sufficient spare trains, pointing out that on Line 1 there are only two reserve trains for every 21 in service. The Valencian regional government, for its part, maintains that the reduced service frequency allows for the availability of replacement vehicles, and that no incidents have been reported on the Metrobús system with its new electric trains.
The Labrit pelota court successfully debuts its new air conditioning system
At the other end of the climate control spectrum, Pamplona's Labrit pelota court experienced its first San FermÃn festival with a new aerothermal and ventilation system costing one million euros. The installation, completed last year, underwent its first major test with packed houses and high temperatures. The general feeling is that the atmosphere is much more bearable than in previous years , especially in the upper stands, where all the heat used to be concentrated. The president of the Navarre Pelota Federation, Andrea Lusarreta, and vice president Fernando Goñi inspected the system's operation on the evening of July 7, after the first professional handball festival, and expressed their satisfaction.
However, the heat remains a significant challenge at the pelota court. The bar area inside the stands continues to get quite hot , although the new cooling system has improved the distribution of airflow. This year, the food and beverage options have been expanded with a new bar on the VIP box level and another in the upper stands. It hasn't all been good news, though: a fan was ejected during the nighttime festival on the 7th for throwing drinks into the crowd from the upper stands, despite being warned several times. The organizers have reinforced security with four guards and a coordinator to ensure a positive atmosphere.
Expert tips for beating the heat at home
While public infrastructure adapts as best it can, households are also looking for ways to cope with the heat without their electricity bills skyrocketing. Air conditioning expert Carlos Llull explains that leaving the air conditioner on for eight hours at night can cost around one euro, provided the unit is modern and efficient. What many people don't realize is that consumption isn't constant : the unit uses more energy when it starts up to cool the room, and then consumption stabilizes. Therefore, turning it off and on repeatedly is counterproductive, because it forces the motor to work harder each time.
Another key tip concerns the fan's placement. American technician Jon Gilbersten recommends positioning it near an open window or door to create a cross breeze, rather than pointing it directly at your body. Cross ventilation, a fundamental principle of bioclimatic architecture , allows you to refresh the air in a room without using air conditioning. Ideally, this should be done at night or when the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature, and windows should be kept closed during the hottest hours to prevent hot air from entering.
In short, air conditioning in Spain faces a record-breaking summer with challenges ranging from the reliability of equipment in public transport to efficient home climate control. Solutions include better maintenance planning , investment in modern systems like aerothermal energy, and adopting simple habits that help reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. As long as temperatures continue to rise, air conditioning will remain a hot topic.
