Brussels While the federal government is currently working on mandating climate-friendly heating systems, the EU is working on new insulation regulations. The European Parliament is demanding that certain residential buildings should be energetically renovated in seven years. In many cases, this would mean that homeowners would have to replace windows, insulate the roof or purchase a solar system.
This Tuesday, the members of the European Parliament voted to tighten the proposals of the EU Commission. If they have their way, the law contains the following key points:
- Existing residential buildings are to be upgraded to energy efficiency standard E by 2030 and to standard D by 2033.
- Existing non-residential buildings are to be upgraded to energy efficiency standard E by 2027 and to standard D by 2033.
- Older buildings are to be equipped with solar systems from 2032, when a major renovation is taking place anyway.
- New buildings should no longer emit CO2 from 2028, new buildings by government agencies even from 2026.
- New buildings should also be equipped with solar systems from 2028, provided that this is technically and economically feasible.
The EU Commission had proposed less stringent requirements and allowed more time for the renovation. The efficiency class of a building can be found in its energy certificate, which is already mandatory in Germany.
In order for the law to come into force, Parliament still has to agree on a final version with the member states. The member states then have to transpose it into national law. They should also ensure that no unreasonable burdens arise. The EU regulations do not change the conditions under which landlords can pass on the costs to their tenants.
Costs come back
The law is particularly relevant in relation to older houses. “The houses with the worst insulation were built in the 1950s to 1970s,” says Gisela Renner, NRW chairwoman of the energy consultants’ association GIH. “If no investments were made in these houses, then that has to happen in the future.” Anyone who owns a house from the 1990s is unlikely to be affected by the law.
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In addition to thermal insulation, the energy supply and the use of renewable energies also play an important role in terms of the energy standard – for example with a solar thermal system. New heaters, on the Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), on the other hand, play a subordinate role.
The costs for homeowners can be high: “For a comprehensive, target-compliant renovation of a single-family house with 140 square meters, investments in a six-digit range can certainly be incurred,” says Patrick Biegon, an expert at the Federal Association of Consumer Organizations. However, some of these costs are incurred anyway when a house is maintained.
A report by his association showed that a large-scale energy renovation always makes economic sense with a view to the entire lifespan of a house. “In the long run, not acting is more expensive than comprehensive renovation,” says Biegon. The prerequisite for this is adequate and targeted funding.
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According to the EU Commission, buildings are currently responsible for 40 percent of energy consumption in the EU. A wave of renovations could reduce consumption by five to six percent. However, recently less than one percent of the building stock was renovated each year. The Commission wants to increase this value.
CDU criticizes “harassment”
Critics, on the other hand, fear unreasonable burdens for individual citizens. The CDU MP Markus Pieper speaks of a “patronizing directive”: “The climate goals can also be achieved without harassing people,” he said.
Above all, he has older people in mind who live in low-value houses outside of the big cities: “We cannot force a 70-year-old who lives in a house that costs 150,000 euros to invest 100,000 euros in this house.” , according to Pieper.
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He points out that Parliament only approved with a narrow majority. This is a signal for the forthcoming negotiations with the member states not to overdo it with the specifications.
SPD MP Jens Geier, on the other hand, said: “I do not share the fear that the directive will lead to unacceptable burdens. There are numerous exceptions to the renovation requirement and a social protection clause.” The deadlines also take into account the capacities of the construction industry.
In December, the EU had already decided to make the use of fossil energy in buildings more expensive. In the future, a CO2 price will be levied on the use of heating oil and gas throughout the EU, as is already the case in Germany. This should make climate-friendly heating systems more attractive because fossil fuels are becoming more expensive.
The building efficiency guideline that has now been agreed provides for the member states to expand their funding programs for refurbishment. Around 150 billion euros from EU pots are available for this purpose by 2030.
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