The German government is facing mounting pressure to revise its contentious heating law, with Housing Minister Verena Hubertz (SPD) issuing a stark warning against substantive rollbacks while simultaneously signaling a significant overhaul of the current framework. In an interview with Funke-Mediengruppe, Hubertz emphasized the imperative of meeting climate targets, stating that Germany lags significantly in decarbonizing the building sector.
However, she was quick to clarify that the legislation is not solely focused on heat pumps, despite their prominent role in public perception. “This is not a heat pump law” she asserted, acknowledging the need for broader fulfillment options and signaling a willingness to incorporate further solutions during the revision process.
Hubertz, working closely with Economics Minister Katarina Reiche (CDU), is spearheading a complete reimagining of the law, deeming the existing version both technologically restrictive and practically unworkable. She criticized the current drafting, noting that “some sentences.are not understandable” highlighting a fundamental lack of clarity contributing to widespread confusion and opposition.
A critical focus of the reform will be a review of funding conditions, particularly those related to heat pump subsidies. Concerns have been raised that the current system, while generous, is vulnerable to exploitation and doesn’t adequately address the underlying cost drivers linked to regulatory standards and market dynamics.
To align with the upcoming European Buildings Directive and boost renovation rates, Hubertz is prioritizing serial renovation projects and neighborhood-level approaches, recognizing the impracticality of retrofitting all public buildings. This shift indicates a move away from potentially unrealistic, blanket requirements toward a more nuanced and strategically focused approach to achieving Germany’s ambitious climate goals, while acknowledging the enormous political and economic challenges involved. The revision process is expected to be closely watched, particularly given the significant political capital already expended on the initial legislative push.