If the housing industry and a municipal association have their way, it should be possible to lower the minimum temperature in apartments in the event of a gas shortage. But a federal agency is also proposing this. There is a headwind.
In the debate about possible gas bottlenecks in Germany, Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) spoke out against lower minimum temperatures for apartments. “I think legally prescribed freezing is nonsensical,” Geywitz told the German Press Agency in Berlin.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck does not rule out legal measures to save energy as a consequence of the reduced gas supplies from Russia. “If the storage volumes do not increase, then we will have to take further measures to save, if necessary also by law,” said the Green politician on Thursday in the ARD “Tagesthemen”.
When asked whether that could also mean lowering the prescribed minimum temperature in apartments, Habeck replied, “We haven’t dealt with that intensively yet. We will look at all the laws that contribute there.” In addition to the Federal Network Agency, the housing industry and the Association of Towns and Municipalities have called for lower specifications for minimum temperatures in apartments in order to be able to react to bottlenecks and save gas.
Gas deliveries to Germany significantly reduced
The Russian energy giant Gazprom has significantly reduced its gas supplies to Germany through the important Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1. In order to save as much gas as possible against the background of the Russian war in Ukraine, the President of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, also proposed lowering the requirements for heating. Landlords should no longer have to turn up the heating system to at least 20 to 22 degrees during the heating period, but the specifications could drop at times, according to Müller’s suggestion.
Geywitz replied: “The case law stipulates a minimum of 20 degrees.” Anything below that could even be a health hazard and was also not thought of enough in terms of building technology. The debate is going nowhere, because with an amendment to the heating cost ordinance at the beginning of January, monthly information about consumption would be sent to tenants. “So you can check your consumption regularly and are doing so more and more just because of the prices,” said Geywitz. The existing practical information from consumer centers and the federal government made more sense than a falling minimum temperature.
“On the other hand, we also have to knock on the door of those who keep an eye on the heating systems, for example the caretaker,” said Geywitz. The minister announced: “We will provide something together with the housing industry.”
Reduction of the minimum temperature during the call
The Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies (GdW) called for the minimum temperature in apartments to be reduced by up to six degrees Celsius in the event of a gas shortage: “Should gas deliveries to Germany be further restricted significantly in the future and a shortage situation arise, the legal framework should be as follows adjusted so that further reductions in the minimum temperature to a maximum lower limit of 18 degrees during the day and 16 degrees at night become possible,” GdW President Axel Gedaschko told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities also called for changes to the legal framework in order to make it easier to save energy as a result of reduced Russian gas supplies. General manager Gerd Landsberg pointed out in the “Rheinische Post” (Friday) that landlords are obliged to ensure a temperature of at least 20 degrees. “That has to be changed. Even an apartment with 18 or 19 degrees can still be lived in well, and everyone should be able to support this comparatively small sacrifice, »said Landsberg.
If the situation continues to deteriorate, which cannot be ruled out, “concrete savings plans” should be developed in the municipalities, Landsberg demanded. Specifically, he mentioned lowering the temperatures in the administration buildings, reducing the temperature in swimming pools, possibly also the temporary closure of individual facilities.
Conversely, it must also be specified where a temperature reduction is not possible, for example in hospitals and care facilities. Landsberg called for the efforts to be communicated regularly to the citizens: “We can only get through the crisis together, which means that people have to support it.”
Habeck said the gas storage facilities are currently 56 percent full. That is above average, but not enough. “We can’t go into the winter with 56 percent. They have to be full. Otherwise we are really open, »said the minister. The situation is serious, but security of supply is currently guaranteed.
Habeck appealed again to companies and citizens to save energy and gas. With a view to the Russian supply cuts, Habeck spoke of a pattern that had been recognizable over the past few weeks. This is how dictators and despots acted, he said. This is a showdown between Western allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Source: Stern
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
