Spanish 'Energy-free' apartments win global award
Jan 30th
An apartment block in the province of Zaragoza is the second in Spain to win the Passivhaus Certificate, a global energy-efficiency award given to residential properties which use little or no power. Based across the borders of the towns of Valdespartera, Casablanca and Montecanal, the Residencial Scenia II is made up of 26 flats with as swimming pool, spread out over 13,576 square metres (33.5 acres) of land and is the brainchild of developers LOBE Group. 'Passive Houses' are homes which use practically no energy and supply themselves with power, with year-round indoor temperatures of 20ºC to 25ºC guaranteed without switching on any heating or air-conditioning apparatus. From: ThinkSpain
They save about 90% on typical energy bills for standard residential properties, or 75% on new builds, as well as offering multiple benefits for comfort, health and quality of life, LOBE Group says.
Brussels gives Spain an ultimatum to clean up its air
Jan 30th
The European Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, has summoned nine countries to Brussels which he plans to bring to justice for their breaches of air pollution standards. In Spain the problems are centred in Madrid and Barcelona and associated with nitrogen dioxide, that is, with traffic. Before bringing the nine breaching states to the EU Court of Justice, the Commission has given them one last chance : to present their plans against pollution before the end of next week. Basically, Brussels is asking them to explain "how they are going to try to comply with the European legislation on air quality". In addition to Spain, the governments of the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the United Kingdom have all been called to the meeting with Vella. From:El Pais.
Xàbia will host its first "Nautical Sea Weekend" in March
Jan 31st
The 1st Nautical-Sea Weekend Fair will take place on 24th and 25th March on Avenida Augusta, on the section that separates the interior marina with the canal. Entry will be totally free. Juan Fuentes, manager of Marina Nou Fontana, organiser of the fair, pointed out that "the fair will be a must for all lovers of the sea" . Fuentes highlights that the exhibiting companies are from the entire area, "linked to high quality nautical services and activities with great respect for the privileged environment. " The nautical companies add some 500 jobs. The idea is to help de-seasonalise tourism in Xàbia. Many of the nautical clients come from Madrid and take a weekend off before easter week. The fair will feature "First, recreational motor boats between 5 and 9 meters in length. Second, diving. Xàbia is a benchmark in the Valencian Community and in Spain and within the marina there are seven diving centers. The third section is boat rentals, jet skis, excursions and the fourth, parallel activities such as talks and workshops. " from: Javea.com
Xàbia museum receives record number of visitors
Jan 27th
The Soler Blasco Municipal Museum in Xàbia attracted almost 24,550 visitors to its facilities during 2017, a record number which beats previous records, surpassing the 2016 number by 1,425 and demonstrates a continued interest in the town's history and development by both residents and visitors. With regards to a tourism attraction, the percentage of visitors from other European countries (and to a lesser extent other countries across the world) is very significant with 6,446 foreign visitors representing some 26.7% of the total, a rise of more than two points on 2016. Local visitors accounted for 4,434 visits, 18% of the total, with 10.4% coming from the Comunidad Valenciana and 45.2% from the rest of Spain. The municipal museum highlighted to work of the 'Asociación de Amigos de Mvsev de Xàbia (AMVX)' for its contributions to making the venue a continuing success. Since its formation in 2013, its members have managed to translate all the information in the museum, including the panels and information videos, into English and more recently into French which helps foreign visitors to better understand the content of the exhibition. For full story see: Javeamigos
Culture committee briefed on new projects for 2018 and the Auditorium
Jan 25th
Apart form the programme of cultural events, the briefing included information on the new auditorium, which should be completed by the beginning of 2019. They were alos considering the management model it should have. The auditorium which will be the only one in the region with the necessary infrastructure to be able to host operas and theatrical shows which require changing of sets as well as the added value that makes it accessible for people with hearing problems and its use as a venue for conferences, etc. The meeting was alos was informed about the future of the Central Cinema with the mayor pledging that the Ayuntamiento would not abandon trying to find a use for it and consequently had been seeking advice through CulturArts to study all of the infrastructures of a cultural use that Xàbia has and identify what role could be applied to the Central Cinema. For full story see: Javeamigos. For the Agenda21 proposal for use of the Central Cinema see: Agenda21 proposal Central Cinema
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Amjasa joins project to manage drought
Jan 25th
AMJASA has signed a collaboration agreement with the Fundación Nueva Cultura del Agua, a collective that promote more rational and sustainable water policies through scientific knowledge, for the preparation of a methodological guide on the management of drought risk in small and medium-sized towns in the face of climate change, joining with Puente Genil (Córdoba) and Madridejos (Toledo). The project which will be developed over the coming year forms part of the call for funding for projects on adapting to climate change 2016 by the Fundación Biodiversidad. It includes an initial analysis of the supply system, a workshop and debate on the vulnerabilities and social capacities for drought risk management and a final meeting to validate and discuss the results and what needs to be done in the future. For full story see: Javeamigos
The new General Plan of Benitatxell will create an ecological corridor to link the Montgó with Bèrnia
Jan 12th
The new General Structural Plan of El Poble Nou de Benitatxell has been revealed as an instrument of strategic planning for the sustainable development of the Marina Alta according to the new editorial team led by the architect Alberto Morera. The key geographical situation of the municipality makes it a nexus of connection of natural areas of great importance, such as the natural park of Montgó, the cliffs (protected with the LIC Penya-segats de la Marina), the Serra de Bèrnia and the natural and rural areas of the interior of the region. The plan will create an ecological corridor that will connect the Montgó, the Garganta de Gata and the Serra de Bèrnia. In addition, it will preserve the agricultural landscape (it will also promote the recovery of this economic activity) and will protect the coastal front through a network of public viewpoints. From : La Marina Plaza
New outbreak of Xylella detected in Benissa, Gata, Xaló, Parcent and Llíber
Jan 1st
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has declared the existence of a fifth outbreak of the pest Xylella fastidiosa in the Valencian Community. This one affects the Marina Alta, which has adopted urgent phytosanitary measures for eradication and control. From: La Marina Plaza. To date, no known curative treatment can prevent the disease; the progressive spread of the pathogen can only be contained. Investigators are testing for the bacterium widely, and trees found to be infected have been burned and destroyed to halt the disease’s propagation. See: Access science for more details.
International protection for the whale and porpoise corridor near the Marina Alta Coast
Jan 1st
The 20th Conference of the Parties (COP 20) of the Barcelona Convention (Conference of coastal countries responsible for protecting the Mediterranean) held in Tirana (Albania) declared the area off the Marina Alta coastline as a Specially Protected Area of Importance for the Mediterranean (ZEPIM). This measure affects more than 46,000 square kilometers between the coasts of the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia -to the south of which is the Marina Alta. Oil prospecting that was threatening the Gulf of València a while ago and now will no longer be possible because the Mediterranean cetacean corridor will have international protection, as with similar corridors of other seas and oceans of the planet. A direct consequence of this international protection is that the Ministry of Energy must file all projects and applications for hydrocarbon exploration and research permits that affect this protected area. The Government must now put into practice the agreement ratified in Tirana by issuing a decree declaring the Marine Protected Area. From La Marina Plaza
