The traffic light coalition argued for a long time, now the heating law should go through the Bundestag. The opposition is renewing its criticism – and also sees the law as a problem for larger landlords and the construction industry.
The Bundestag is deciding on the controversial heating law today. It is expected that it will be decided with the majority of the traffic light coalition. The Building Energy Act, often referred to as the Heating Act, aims to make heating more climate-friendly by gradually replacing oil and gas heating systems. The law still has to go through the Federal Council at the end of September.
The plans essentially stipulate that every newly installed heating system should be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energy. It is scheduled to come into force at the beginning of 2024, but will initially only apply to new development areas.
Heat planning should provide orientation
For existing buildings, municipal heat planning should be the linchpin: On this basis, homeowners should be able to decide whether they want to connect to a heating network or have a heat pump or other more climate-friendly heating installed. The municipal heat planning should be created in municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants by mid-2026 and for the rest by mid-2028.
There had been a heated argument about the heating law. Under pressure, particularly from the FDP, fundamental changes were made. The Ministry of Economic Affairs recently presented a new calculation for CO2 savings. Accordingly, the climate protection effect of the law will be less than expected.
The reason is the changes in parliamentary procedure. It is assumed that with the new version around three quarters of the actually planned greenhouse gas reduction will be possible by 2030 – “maybe a little more, maybe less”. This new estimate is based on a calculation by the Öko-Institut.
Union: Law is an “accelerant” in the construction crisis
The opposition in the Bundestag failed with a motion to delay the decision on the law. The Union in particular pushed for more time for consultations.
The Union faction now criticized the project again. “The fact is that the GEG with its excessive regulations is making building and living even more expensive,” said deputy parliamentary group leader Ulrich Lange to the “Augsburger Allgemeine”. This cannot be used in times of high inflation and high building interest rates. The law acts as a “fire accelerant”.
Specifically, the CSU politician criticized the fact that the eligible investment costs for apartment buildings decrease as the number of residential units increases. While it should be 30,000 euros for the first residential unit, it should be 3,000 euros for the seventh residential unit. “I see this as putting the housing industry at a disadvantage, even if it still has other options such as levies and depreciation.”
The left also criticizes: “blind eco-activism”
The left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht is calling for a stop to the Building Energy Act and is making serious allegations. “The heating law is blind eco-activism by an aloof government elite that patronizes citizens and divides our country,” criticizes the Bundestag member in Berlin. It must be reversed.
She explains that the heating law will have no noticeable climate effect. “It is dangerous because it will destroy millions of hard-earned wealth and hard-earned savings,” says the left-wing politician, who is considering founding her own party. “The funding is a bad joke.”
Source: Stern
