Environmental Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) called for rapid progress in revising the Building Energy Act-often called the “Heating Act”.
“In the amendment draft the essential points need to come out very quickly” Schneider told the “Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft” (Saturday edition). “The heating industry and many tradespeople finally need clarity. Too many people are now reluctant to replace their heating systems, and everyone suffers”.
He is confident that the coalition will reach a “good compromise”.
In the coalition agreement the government pledged to scrap the Heating Act, but will replace its provisions on installing new heating units and give the law a new name. The coalition had aimed to agree on the core elements by the end of January, yet those points remain pending.
The deadline is tight: by March 25 the government must submit its climate‑protection programme, which-under the Federal Climate Protection Act-must outline how all intermediate climate targets for 2040 will be met. Removing the 65 % renewable‑energy requirement for new heating systems in the Building Energy Act, without a suitable replacement, would widen the CO2‑reduction gap looming by 2040.