Existing oil and gas heaters can continue to be operated, broken heaters can be repaired.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The federal government estimates that private households in Germany will have to spend more than nine billion euros a year by 2028 to install climate-friendly heating systems. This emerges from the controversial bill on energy in buildings, which has now been agreed within the government and which the Ministry of Economic Affairs published on Monday. It is to be adopted by the federal cabinet in April.
The department of Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) expects not only the costs due to the conversion, but also high savings for households. They should save eleven billion years over a period of operation of the new heating systems of 18 years. The savings are due, among other things, to the fact that oil and natural gas prices will rise significantly in the coming years. On the other hand, renewable energy prices are expected to gradually decrease.
The law means an end to installments for conventional oil and gas heating in Germany. From 2024, every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent renewable energy.
In addition to heat pumps, solar thermal or hybrid systems consisting of heat pumps and gas heating, for example, should then be used. With hybrid heating, the heat pump covers the basic supply, the gas heating jumps in on cold days.
Existing oil and gas heaters can continue to be used, damaged heaters can be repaired. Where this is not possible, transitional periods facilitate the exchange. For example, if a heating system fails, a gas heater must be installed in a transitional period of three years. If a connection to a central heating system is planned, this period can be extended to up to ten years.
Details on social cushioning still open
A funding program is also to be set up for the exchange. However, the federal government is still leaving the question of the exact design of the aid open. The Ministry of Economics has only announced that the existing support measures for the conversion to renewable heat will be adjusted. The federal government wants to “socially flank” the heat transition.
So far, heat pumps have been subsidized at a flat rate of up to 40 percent.
(Photo: dpa)
So far, heat pumps have been subsidized at a flat rate of up to 40 percent. Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had announced that the subsidy would be changed so that lower-income households would benefit more. In addition, there is still the possibility of tax incentives for energy-saving measures when renovating condominiums.
The law also provides for transitional periods for the replacement of heating systems. An important point for owners of gas floor heating systems with defective devices is that they should get together with the other residents and find a climate-friendly solution together.
The broken heater can be exchanged for a used conventional gas heater. However, this must be replaced within three years by a heating system that uses 65 percent renewable energy.
For the other residents, there is a transitional period of ten years until they too have installed climate-friendly heating. An alternative solution would be to get a district heating connection for the house.
With agency material
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