The disagreement between the coalition parties over changes to the Building Energy Act (GEG) has weakened the confidence of many citizens in the heating transition. This is the view of Florian Becker, Managing Director of the Building Owners' Protection Association (BSB). He believes that there is confusion and uncertainty among consumers who are looking for efficient and sustainable solutions for their properties. The government has lost trust in construction projects and modernizations and the desire for modernization is decreasing. There is an urgent need to improve communication and provide financial incentives to support energy-efficient measures.
According to Becker, the current agreement in the GEG leaves many questions unanswered and represents a sham solution. For example, it remains unclear whether a new hydrogen-capable heating system installed from 2024 onwards will have to be replaced again if it cannot be operated with hydrogen. This temporary solution could lead to a double burden for consumers. Furthermore, the "appropriate transition periods for the changeover" would be interpreted differently by the parties.
It should also be borne in mind that the GEG will be linked to municipal heating planning in future. However, this will only be drawn up for municipalities with over 10,000 inhabitants. This means that the replacement obligations will apply directly to many parts of the rural population from 2024, where the financial burden of replacing heating systems is particularly high. According to the BSB, these uncertainties in the GEG require clarification in order to regain trust and enable a successful energy transition.
Source and further information: bsb-ev.de
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