To reduce consumption of energy resources on indoor heating, Latvia’s Cabinet of Ministers decided on Tuesday, 20 September, to temporarily reduce indoor air temperature, setting it to not exceed +19° C.
By reducing indoor air temperature by one degree, it will be possible to save up to 5% of heating costs, which is considerable in the long-term perspective, the Ministry of Economics reports.
The government’s decision provides that between 1 October 2022 until 30 April 2023 apartment home managers will have to organise heating system settings in a way
so that air temperature inside apartments does not exceed +19° C and the lowest indoor air temperature is not to drop lower than +18° C.
At the same time the option remains open for co-owners of apartments to ensure higher indoor air temperature if they believe it is needed for proper use of real estate property or for comfort or residents’ health.
Additionally, to reduce consumption of energy resources on heating, the government decided to allow temporarily reducing hot water temperature, the ministry reports.
The government’s decision provides the right to temporarily reduce temperature of hot water if there are ways to avoid rapid reproduction of Legionella spp. bacteria.
Regulations state that the temperature of hot water supplied to households is not to be lower than +55° C.
At the same time, managers of apartment homes will have a duty to inform residents of preventive measures aimed at prevention of the spread of Leionella spp. bacteria at least five days in advance.