We need an investment offensive in energy efficiency

How did this happen? For years, various federal governments have put off the energetic modernization of buildings, despite all warnings from science and experts.

“Cost reasons” were blamed for this. And this is exactly where the root of the problem is revealed: It was and is fundamentally wrong to equate investments with costs. The energy costs are now exorbitantly high because investments in thermal insulation and efficient heating systems have not been made in recent years.

The politicians in charge did not set any appropriate framework conditions, and many landlords lacked the incentives because they could easily pass on the heating costs to their tenants. Sure, there are laudable exceptions. Above all, they show that things could be done differently.

Industry, which is actually strong in Germany, is also trembling: many companies are worried that they will not be able to get gas at all this winter. Companies in particular that have not been energy-intensive enough to slip under exception rules face existential challenges if they cannot or do not want to pass on the high energy costs to consumers through higher prices.

In business, too, investments were all too often geared towards the “old” energy costs, and efficiency potentials were not exhausted – even though some companies demonstrated that a lot is technically possible.

The market alone will not solve the problem

All experts now assume that energy, especially natural gas, will never again be as cheap as it was before the energy cost crisis. Even if the speculation-related peaks on the spot market should smooth out: high energy prices will be the new normal.

If politicians react unilaterally and exclusively with – debt-financed – compensation or even significant interventions in market pricing, they send the wrong message: “Continue as before, we’ll redeem you.”

In this way, the deficiency does not become smaller, but rather larger. Energy security will remain precarious, energy prices will not fall, and in the winter after next the problem will be the same as ever: a vicious circle of energy policy!

>>Read here: “Disaster for climate protection” – Criticism of reform in the promotion of building renovation

But is politics even needed beyond emergency aid? After all, it seems reasonable to assume that the market will take care of itself. That, in view of the astronomical energy costs, investments in energy efficiency now pay off economically even faster and are being made on a massive scale.

It would be nice. In fact, many lack the necessary liquidity and the necessary capital to invest – especially since the high energy expenditure further narrows the financial leeway: too poor to save, another vicious circle.

In order not to be misunderstood: the previous relief packages are by no means superfluous as long as they are used specifically to protect particularly vulnerable groups and companies.

But they cannot be a permanent solution, because at best they postpone the problem. In the end, the taxpayers pay the price that is negotiated on the world market. Maybe later, maybe distributed differently, but we will all have to pay.

We need an energy efficiency bazooka!

The only thing that is helping to make the energy crisis manageable now is a major investment offensive for society as a whole with the aim of significantly reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.

More energy productivity ensures the competitiveness of the economy, alleviates social upheaval, helps to combat the climate crisis, supports the economy and makes the supply of renewable energies more secure.

All this does not happen by itself. Politicians are now primarily responsible. Russia is not a reliable energy partner, but energy saving can replace a large part of energy imports.

The lesson from the mistakes and omissions of the past should be clear: Facing the challenges of the future means finally aligning political action consistently with what is actually known knowledge.

In concrete terms, this means that political decision-makers in Brussels and Berlin must now pull out the energy efficiency bazooka and provide capital on a historic scale for a modernization offensive, for a true liberation.

For example, through fast, unbureaucratic and cheap loans for everyone who wants to invest in their energy efficiency now, supplemented by reliable and generous funding. The fact that the conditions for building energy efficiency subsidies were cut in the middle of the energy crisis is a scandal and a fatal signal.

The government should shape instead of working through the pressures of the crisis

In addition to money, it takes courage. Courage, for example, as a government to clearly tell landlords that they now have to quickly refurbish the worst buildings to a minimum level. Courage to give heat suppliers 50 percent climate-neutral heat by 2030.

Courage to pass an ambitious energy efficiency law with binding targets and measures. Courage to link energy price discounts for industry to worthwhile investments in climate protection. And courage to remove market barriers from the way of energy service providers as decarbonization professionals.

The traffic light government that came into office as a coalition for the future now has the historic opportunity to shape the future offensively instead of working through the constraints of the crisis defensively and driven. Incidentally, that would also help with the shortage of skilled workers because it makes new future jobs in the energy transition and climate protection more attractive and reliable. This foresight would suit the government well.

In the end, however, it is also up to all of us to see and use the opportunity in the crisis. Stop complaining, let’s get on with it.

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