Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The most recently released Eurobarometer, exactly fifty days before the European elections, shows a decrease in quality of life in the last five years, with Portugal being one of the countries of the European Union (EU) in which this trend is more pronounced. The end of the pandemic, the start of the war in Ukraine and the effects of inflation have had significant impacts on the lives of all European citizens, who have experienced a drop in quality of life since the last five years, and Portugal is one of the nine EU countries where this trend is more pronounced , with most respondents admitting to experiencing economic difficulties, namely through difficulty in paying bills. In the Eurobarometer published on Wednesday 17 April, 26,411 citizens from 27 Member States and 1,032 at national level were heard, with 56% o f the national sample admitting to experiencing a negative evolution in quality of life since the last European elections, that took place in 2019. The percentage is higher than the European average, which is set at 45%. On the other hand, 49% of the Portuguese say they have not felt the changes, compared to the 6% who say that their quality of life has grown in the last five years. Behind Portugal is Greece, with 74%, France, with 69%, Cyprus, 63%, and Spain, with 58% , with averages representing the negative impacts of the crises felt in Europe. 41% of Portuguese have no hope that quality of life Regarding the prospects for improvement for the coming years , the forecasts are not encouraging, and according to Eurobarometer, 41% of the Portuguese heard think that their quality of life will continue to worsen in the next five years, while 38% does not foresee any change in their living standards. Only 13% of the Portuguese believe in an improvement. The state of the Portuguese economy is also a concern of the Portuguese, and, 33%, anticipates a negative evolution, 35% does not believe in any change, compared to the 23% that predicts improvements in the economy in Portugal in the next five years. Related: Increased well-being in Portugal has an impact on consumption in GDP
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Cascais was again awarded , this time in the areas of advertising and innovation , by Muse Creative Awards 2024 . At issue is the Golf Passport by Cascais platform, distinguished in the category of tourism website and e-commerce platform. The project, launched by Turismo de Cascais , includes a golf passport of its kind with an innovative digital solution , being the first platform that allows you to make golf reservations of 3-5 laps, in less than a minute, availability in real time and respective prices. Bernardo Corrêa de Barros, president of Turismo de Cascais, says that Cascais is at the forefront of digital innovation aimed at improving the lives of tourists and residents , explaining that now golfers can score with confidence, knowing that this is the fastest, simplest and most cost-efficient way in Portugal to play on different courses . Unique in having technology applicable to any set of golf courses anywhere in the world, Golf Passport promises to pave the way for more innovation and collaboration between destinations, travel partners and golf locations, Jo Maes, commercial director of Zest.golf and responsible for the development of the software used in the platform: this is a world first in the golf travel sector and was achieved through close collaboration between us as a technology supplier, the Visit Cascais tourism council and each of the golf clubs, to provide a fully integrated and highly functional booking solution for tour operators and consumers, collude. More about Cascais that may interest you: Cascais will advance with mega-urbanization in Quinta dos Ingleses , Cascais is recognized as Green Destination
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The intense heat is causing an increase in demand for services for swimming pools , ensures an analysis of the service contracting platform Fixando, sent in a statement to SUPERCASA Notícias that identified an 8 1% growth in demand for these services last week, requests for cleaning and maintenance of these equipment. As for the distribution of services sought during the week of April 8 to 14, most of the requests were for cleaning and maintenance of swimming pools (51%), followed by repairs to swimming pools (31%) and new swimming pool facilities (9%). The company also said that, after a month in March that set record temperatures around the world, and with a weekend marked by a sharp rise in thermometers throughout the country, requests for services for swimming pools between March 1 and April 14 grew 53% compared to the same period last year. A detailed analysis of the prices of the services also revealed a significant increase in 2024, compared to the previous year: for example, the average cost of installing a pool increased to 2,133 euros, compared to 1,975 euros in 2023. The cleaning and maintenance of jacuzzis and spas also registered a substantial increase , from 80€ to 120€. However, the price for cleaning or maintaining swimming pools remained relatively stable, with a marginal increase of only €1 (from €104 to €105). With high temperature forecasts continuing in the coming days, Fixando, in information shared with SUPERCASA Notícias , estimates that the demand for pool services continues to grow. In the total of this study, 1526 requests related to swimming pools were analyzed. On this topic, we suggest reading: Is there a pool in your house? See how to make an effective cleaning or Increasingly Portuguese invest in houses with swimming pool
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction There is a great concern in Portugal with the cleaning of land as a result of the great history of fires recorded in recent years. With climate factors that can cause risk situations, it is important to keep the land clean and cared for, making a fuel management that avoids devastating disasters. This is a responsibility of the owners contemplated in the law, and therefore, if it is not properly complied with, it may lead to large fines, because it is an essential process to avoid fires. If you own a plot of land with bush and want to fulfill your obligation, t his is the article you should read to ensure the rules, compliance deadlines and other bureaucracies that may cause doubts. When is the deadline for clearing the woods/ land? It is important to retain that you only have until April 30 to clear your land. Any owner, usufructuary, tenant or entity holding a land or forest inserted in a rural area are primarily responsible for the maintenance and cleaning of the space, having until April 30 to ensure it. If they do not, complaints can be made and the City Councils can take over the management of fuels in these properties , making the owner responsible for paying the respective expense. Thus, the owner is obliged to allow access to their land, and municipalities can use security forces to ensure that the work is performed. In this way, police forces can be called upon to intervene if there are impediments to proper cleaning. It is important to note that, if you know a situation of non-compliance, you have the duty to report it to the competent authorities, incurring negligence if you do not. Therefore, you should contact the City Council or GNR of your locality. Is there an inspection? Yes, and the Government even has to disclose the list of the most priority parishes where the fuel management assessment will be made, and which essentially consists of assessing whether the herbs have been cut, the bush, shrubs and trees trimmed and if there are no dangers to the buildings or settlements located on the peripheries. This inspection usually takes place during the month of May, from 1 to 31 May, where, initially, owners will be inspected as a priority, tenants, usufructuaries and other entities holding land in rural areas or with buildings on the periphery within a radius of 50 metres, but also agglomerations, industrial parks or campsites within a range of 100 metres. The second phase of the inspection takes place in June and is focused on road and rail networks, electric transmission and distribution lines, as well as natural gas transportation lines. At this stage, the inspection focuses on the Integrated Rural Fire Management System and will evaluate areas traditionally more affected by this type of disaster, with the main objective of preventing fires that occur , more commonly, in summer. If you own land or forest, know that it is already possible to consult the list of priority parishes, which this year are 991, and which correspond to about 30% of the entire Portuguese mainland . What are the consequences of non-compliance? It is important that, if the owner, usufructuary, lessee or entity holding a land, make a cleaning of it, not leaving out the cleaning near the poles and electricity cables or on the side tracks of the roads, railways or other existing tracks. It is important to clean in a 50-meter strip around buildings, if any, and do the proper cleaning at shipyards, warehouses, workshops, factories, housing or other equipment. If you do not, you may incur fines up to 5,000 euros for individuals and 25,000 euros for legal persons. Cleaning: how to do? In the cleaning phase, it is important to understand that this includes the cutting of herbs, shrubs, bush and other plant materials that exist around buildings inserted in rural or forest areas, as well as the cutting of branches of trees that are located up to four meters above the ground, or trees that are eight meters or more, or up to 50% of the height if they are less than eight meters. It is foreseen in the clearing of land, also, the cutting of trees and shrubs that are located less than five meters of existing buildings, especially if there are branches that are projected rises roofs , and bushes can not exceed 50 centimeters in height - in the case of herbaceous plants, the limit is 20 centimeters. At the end of the intervention, the respective cleaning of the leftovers should be done. Keep in mind that, during the process, you must respect legally protected species such as holm oaks or cork oaks. What are the exceptions to cleaning? Excluded from the cleaning obligations provided for in the law are gardens that are properly maintained, as well as agricultural areas - provided they are not set aside or intended for permanent pasture. Cleanliness in the city: conditions It is not only rural or forest areas that are covered with this cleaning requirement, there are rural and forest areas contiguous to urban areas where this obligation must be implemented within the legal deadlines. The conclusion to be drawn is this: if you are the owner of a land or house in the countryside, inserted in a forest or rural area, be aware that your actions can make a difference and avoid disasters such as fires. Check if your land or house is properly cleaned, also checking if your irrigation systems work and, on warmer days, be aware of the fire risks to your area, information you can consult, updated, on the website of IPMA - Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera . Related to this theme, you can read: Buy a land to build: everything you need to know , REN Project will protect the forest from rural fires
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Selectra , a specialist in energy tariffs, made several calculations where it finds a remarkable variation in energy consumption related to the cooling of homes, depending on the devices used , having sent them in a statement to the newsroom of SUPERCASA Notícias . In order to answer how much is, on average, the cooling in the electricity bill of three family configurations in two different markets, it was possible to reach the conclusion that the regulated market is, on average, about 6.20% more expensive. In these calculations, tax-free base price values were used. For a family configuration without children, the use of a fixed air conditioner was considered. For families with two children, two fixed air conditioners and a ceiling fan were incorporated. Finally, for families with four children, two fixed air conditioners, two ceiling fans and a portable air conditioner were included. With regard to appliances that give the greatest weight in energy expenditure, a clearer picture of the actual costs associated with each type of cooling is presented. Thus, it was possible to identify that fixed air conditioning is the least economical option, followed by portable air conditioning and, finally, the ceiling fan. These analyses aim to provide consumers with transparent and detailed information to make informed and prudent decisions regarding energy consumption and choices to cool their homes. By fully understanding the options available and their associated costs, families will be able to take effective measures to save energy and reduce expenses without compromising their comfort. Some recommendations have also been put together to help consumers achieve this goal successfully: Place the air conditioner at a temperature between 24 ºC and 25 ºC, as each degree that lowers the energy consumption will increase by 8%; 80% of air conditioning consumption results from cooling the air it collects. It is therefore much cheaper to use a fan which, although it does not cool the air, makes it circulate; Roll down the blinds or close the curtains to prevent the house from being heated by the sun . It is also important that all windows are closed when the air conditioning is switched on and that the rooms which do not need to be cooled are closed; If you are buying an air conditioner, make sure you have an A energy label . If this is A+++, energy savings will be around 40%; Unplug appliances that are not in use, as leaving them in stand-by accounts for 10% to 16% of household electricity consumption, so it is advisable to unplug as many of them as possible; Enjoy natural ventilation in the cooler moments of the day , such as early morning or late afternoon; Check that the house has good thermal insulation as it will prevent unwanted heat from entering and ensure that the internal temperature remains more stable; Like the tips? Follow the SUPERCASA Notícias for more similar information
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The Government of Luís Montenegro contemplated culture in the program of the XXIV Constitutional Government , proposing that admission to museums and monuments be free for young people up to 25 years. On Sunday mornings and holidays this is already a reality in Portugal, however, the measure intends to extend the period of access , having gone to debate this Thursday and Friday. At stake is the allocation of a higher value to culture in the State Budget, up to 50%, with the target to be achieved in the next four years. Ensuring the proper functioning of heritage institutions throughout the territory, especially the Museums, Monuments and Palaces is one of the priorities of the new Government, which intends to combat the reform recently undertaken by the previous Government until the end of the legislature. The measure also wants to stimulate the regular visit of children and young people to Monuments, Museums, Theaters and other cultural facilities , as well as expand the informative offer from the second cycle of education in the areas of music, theater, dance and visual arts. The book market will also undergo a revision with regard to the law of fixed book price , and that involves evaluating the creation of tax exemptions related to the taxation of the value of books in storage, in order to minimize the destruction of books returned to publishers with an incentive of the book entities to reuse books and bet on the digital transition (e-book or audiobook) . Libraries will also have a strengthening, namely the National Network of Public Libraries, the National School Network and research libraries , through the promotion of translation and the internationalization of national literary production. Discover also: DGES points out socioeconomic inequalities in university access , Coimbra wants to attract more technological investment
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Portugal is no longer the country where travel expenses are highest, although it remains among the destinations where this type of monthly expenses are highest . The data is from the mobility barometer of Europ Assistance, shared this Tuesday, April 9. According to the analysis, Portugal occupies the fifth position in the international ranking, with each Portuguese spending, on average, 132€. At the top of the table is Belgium, with average monthly expenses of € 194, followed by Austria, with an average value of € 192, Germany, with € 153 and Italy, with € 138. On the other hand, with lower averages than those of Portugal, there are France (131€), Chéquia (125€) and Spain (108€). These values were calculated based on spending on fuel, parking, tolls, bicycle rental, scooters, public transport and TVDE. In all the countries analyzed, 42% regularly use public transport, having increased the use of electric bicycles in almost all European countries , except Portugal. In our country, the trend is reverse, with the use of personal bicycles decreased compared to the previous year. Related topics you can read: Portuguese reveal concern with mobility , Government approves use of 1.5M € for works in the Metro of Lisbon and Funchal is one of the places in the world where there is more traffic
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The municipality of Porto was able to meet all the recycling targets it had committed to in 2023, reaching the record recycling rate of 43% . This means that, on average, each port will have separated 78 kilos of waste over the year, with more than 10 thousand tons of organic waste being collected. Porto exceeded all recycling targets in 2023, with each port separating, on average, about 78 kilos/inhab.year [per inhabitant per year] of packaging waste against the target of 60 kilos/inh.ano, which allowed to achieve a rate of preparation for recycling of 43%, well above the 31% established as a national goal , indicates the municipality, celebrating the implementation. With this goal achieved, it was possible to avoid about 17 thousand tons of CO2, positioning Porto at the forefront in the fight against climate change . The significant increase in selective collection is one of the most determining factors for this goal, having been collected more than 2,050 tons in 2023, which is an increase of 5.8% compared to 2022. The municipality points out that in the field of the three flows, the growth was 6.9%, especially the 7,210 tons of glass collected, 4.6% more than in the previous year, contrary to the national trend of decrease. For these historical values, the reorganization and reinforcement of the installation of selective deposition equipment were decisive, along with the elimination of exclusive points for undifferentiated , with 1,300 ecopoints available in the city for the deposit of organic waste. Other topics related to Sustainability that we recommend you to read: Light can go down on average 7% from June and Companies prioritize sustainability, but lack investment
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction EDP Comercial announced on Monday 8 April that it will be reducing its electricity and natural gas bills from June onwards. As a result, monthly electricity bills may fall by 7 per cent, while natural gas bills are expected to fall by 14 per cent , due to the impact of falling prices on the free market, which has improved conditions . The price of electricity will fall by 10 per cent , according to EDP, while natural gas will fall by up to 20 per cent, creating an impact on the final price that is much more limited by the component of network access tariffs . Last week, Galp also announced a drop in electricity and natural gas prices on average. This drop started at the beginning of the month, with prices falling by an average of 28 per cent for electricity and 19 per cent for natural gas, with the justification, like EDP, being that the wholesale electricity and natural gas markets currently have low prices. Follow other similar topics: Natural gas social tariff: 3.1% discount to be maintained
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction The new support for water efficiency in the Algarve, for companies in the tourism sector , was presented last March with the motto save water, protect the future , and the rules on how it will work are now known. This is support for Algarve companies in the tourism sector that can demonstrate investments to improve their water efficiency , for which support totalling ten million euros has been allocated. The aim is to incentivise and improve the management of the Algarve regions water reserves , avoiding future supply problems and leading to greater control over the drought situations reported in recent months. To implement these measures, a water efficiency recognition label called Save Water has been created , which will be awarded to companies with tourist resorts that show that they have adopted practices and measures to rationalise water use . To this end, a support line has been set up to encourage this type of company to join. Who can apply for support and what benefits can it offer? According to the decree published in the Diário da República last Thursday, 4 April, companies can apply for water efficiency support if they can prove that they are open for business in the tourism sector and are in good standing, with investments of more than 10,000 euros in water solutions . If eligible, these applications can receive 50 per cent of the eligible expenses, up to a maximum of 50,000 euros per company. Eligible projects are those with a CAE for tourism in rural tourism establishments, hotels or camping and caravanning sites, as well as projects whose aim is to realise investments with an eligible expenditure value of 10,000 euros or more . Projects with a maximum implementation period of 12 months or which have not been started by the time the application is submitted can also apply, as well as being aligned with the action plan for implementing the measures eligible for the Save Water label . Thus, selected companies can receive support that includes, among several other possibilities, the purchase of water-efficient devices and equipment, auditing or consultancy to implement measures to improve, monitor and control reuse systems or cover the costs of training or capacity building for employees with the aim of adopting good practices to reduce water consumption or cover expenses when the intervention of auditors or accountants is required to validate the expense of payment requests, up to a limit of 15 per cent of the amount invested and with a limit of 2,500 euros. Excluded from the benefits of the support are the costs of buying property or work done by the company for itself, as well as cash payments , and there is a limit of one application per company. How can you formalise your application? The application must be made formally on the Turismo de Portugal helpline or electronically, by sending the appropriate form available on the Turismo de Portugal website. Accompanying this form, you must also submit documents such as the authorisation for electronic consultation of the tax and social security situation, a tax return, the access code to the permanent certificate of commercial registration and proof of IBAN. Once the application has been submitted, Turismo de Portugal has 20 working days to analyse the applications submitted and, if they are accepted, an initial automatic advance will be made once the terms of acceptance have been validated. This advance will be equivalent to 50 per cent of the approved incentive, and the final payment will only be made on the basis of the declaration of expenditure on the eligible investment. Read also: Portuguese companies have record levels of financial autonomy
Source: Freepik Author: Redaction Foreign consumption during Easter week represented 26% of the total turnover recorded in Portugal, between 25 and 31 March 2024. This is the main conclusion of REDUNIQ Insights, REDUNIQ’s report, sent in a statement to SUPERCASA Notícias . It was the contribution of tourists from Spain (12%), the United Kingdom (12%), the United States (11%), Ireland (11%) and Germany (8%) that most boosted the performance of Portuguese businesses. Data that Tiago Oom, Chief Commercial Officer of UNICRE and official spokesperson of REDUNIQ Insights, considers very positive, and that reflect the growth curve of Portugal’s demand as a holiday destination, a trend that has been consolidated in recent years. At the same time, the expert also points out as a positive point the fact that this trend is crucial for the digitalization of business, since it is foreign consumers who are the first to bring a need for new forms of payment, scenario that results in a greater interest of traders in incorporating these new methods and responding to emerging consumer behaviors. When analyzing the regions where the weight of foreign consumption was more expressive, during Easter week, the regions of Madeira (47%), Faro (46%), Lisbon (27%) and Viana do Castelo (27%) stand out . Specifically in the hotel and tourism sector, the weight of foreign turnover stood at 78%, with the districts of Faro (86%), Madeira (86%), Lisbon (83%) and Porto (78%) having a demand equal to or higher than last year. In the catering sector, the weight of foreign consumption reached 36%, especially the regions of Faro and Madeira, which registered a value of 63% and 53%, respectively. National consumption also increased during the Easter weekend (from 29 to 31 March), compared to last year, registering a growth in turnover and the number of transactions of 12% and 10%, respectively. Indicators that justify the increase in total turnover of 8% over the Easter period of 2023. When analyzing the dates of higher consumption, the Portuguese acquirer concluded that on Thursday (March 28) there was a growth of 44% compared to the average of the remaining Thursdays in March . Regarding Good Friday (March 29), there was a 10% increase in turnover compared to Good Friday last year (April 7, 2023) and also a positive evolution compared to the average of the remaining Fridays of March this year (+22%). In a finer analysis, and making a comparison between the days before Easter and the average of the rest of March 2024, it is noteworthy a growth of 34% and 33%, respectively, for Friday and Saturday. Discover more topics like this in SUPERCASA Notícias
Source: Pexels Author: Redaction The wholesale electricity market has been suffering a decrease in its prices, relieving electricity traders who buy it directly from producers. This relief may mean that the year is lower prices compared to the last decade, although there are warnings from the sector about possible obstacles to the viability of renewable projects. In this sense, there is a need to balance the market , for which solutions such as batteries arise, a restructuring of the market or the attraction of large consumers. Pedro Amaral Jorge, president of APREN - Portuguese Renewable Energy Association, points out: the way the Iberian market works, whenever renewables can supply [the needs of] an hour, the price [of the hour] is zero, which happened even at the beginning of April, with a few hours close to marking negative values. On the producers side, it is a problem that we will have to solve (...) nobody can sell at zero something that costs money, points out the leader of APREN, stressing that this is a situation unsustainable from a financial point of view , because according to current price projections, as indicated by Pedro Amaral Jorge, no investor will want to invest . Thus, to allow the contracting of renewables, it will be necessary to design a system that compensates renewable plants and prevents prices from falling to zero. Related: Renewable energy community: Coimbra presents proposal
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