Experts Question Minister’s Plan to Reform Building Energy Act
Germany’s Minister of Economics, Katharina Reiche, has faced criticism from experts over her plans to reform the country’s Building Energy Act, also known as the “Heizungsgesetz”. The proposed changes have been met with skepticism, with experts arguing that they could hinder the country’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve climate neutrality.
Florian Munder, an expert on heat at the Consumer Association of Germany, expressed his concerns, saying, “I cannot understand why the obligation to replace heating systems installed before 1991 would be abolished. It seems like a smokescreen, as the government has announced a complete overhaul of this area.”
Munder pointed out that the regulation in question affects a relatively small number of people, referring to old and inefficient heating systems without modern technology. “It seems a bit like a fog, because the government has announced that they will do things differently in this area than the previous government” he added.
Claudia Kemfert, an energy expert at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), noted that the regulation to be abolished was introduced by a CDU-led government in 2020. “Therefore, such statements seem very backward-looking” she said.
Reiche has announced a reform of the Building Energy Act for this year, which includes plans to abolish a ban on operating heating systems installed before 1991, with many exceptions. The CDU politician has also announced that the reduction of CO2 emissions will be the decisive goal in the heating sector in the future.
Munder questioned the effectiveness of such a step, saying, “If one takes the fight against climate change seriously, then a regulation that focuses on CO2 reduction rather than energy efficiency and renewable energy will not lead to different results than the current law. It would only be a different calculation basis. The introduction would, however, lead to new uncertainty and delays.”
Kemfert also fears that the minister’s statements will lead to uncertainty among property owners, saying, “This will lead to unnecessary delays in the urgently needed modernization and energy-efficient renovations of buildings and thus, the climate goals cannot be achieved.” She warned of a “backward role in the energy transition and climate protection” and said the minister’s statements would be surprising, confusing and misleading.
The building sector is expected to exceed the emissions targets of the Climate Protection Act by 2030 and the goals for 2035 and 2040 are also out of reach, according to the Federal Environment Agency’s calculations. The German Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the transition to climate neutrality must be initiated in all areas of life by 2030 to comply with the country’s emissions budget, which, according to the calculations of the German Advisory Council on the Environment, can only be met until 2033 if no more stringent measures are taken.