Warming many houses also promotes global warming. Above all, oil and gas heating systems have a negative impact on the climate. The transition should now begin. But the government disagrees.
In the discussion about the Building Energy Act, the FDP is pushing for more options for heating with wood. “Wood chips and pellets are renewable energy sources, and heating with wood must remain permitted, and also in new buildings,” said parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ).
The draft law passed by the Federal Cabinet provides for a ban on wood heating in new buildings. Wood should only remain an option in existing buildings where other solutions are not feasible or sensible, for example because of monument protection. Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had recently shown a willingness to compromise.
FDP wants changes to the bill
The co-governing FDP wants fundamental changes to the bill. This stipulates that from the beginning of 2024 every newly installed heating system should be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. The switch is to be socially cushioned by state funding, and there should also be transitional periods and hardship regulations.
Dürr called for more options for installing gas or oil heaters that can later be converted to hydrogen or synthetic fuels. It must be ensured “that other technologies can be used in houses for which heat pumps simply do not make sense, for example because of the horrendous costs for conversion and insulation”.
Dürr promoted wood as a climate-neutral fuel. Wood can be a good solution for many houses. However, the Federal Environment Agency recently confirmed that from the perspective of climate protection it is always better to process wood than to burn it. The authority also warns of the harmful fine dust pollution from wood heating systems and fireplaces.
According to the agreement in the cabinet, the amended Building Energy Act is to be passed in the Bundestag before the summer break, but the FDP wants to take its time. It is crucial that the law becomes good, said Dürr. “It doesn’t matter to people whether we can do it a week earlier or later.”
Source: Stern
