An association warns of “financially serious consequences” for building owners and tenants. The issue is CO2 pricing.
Households could face sharp cost increases from 2027 onwards. The reason is a reform of CO2 pricing. The introduction of a European emissions trading system for fuels could have “serious financial consequences” for building owners and tenants, according to a study by the Munich Research Institute for Thermal Insulation on behalf of the Federal Association for Energy-Efficient Building Envelopes. This applies in particular to buildings with poor energy performance.
“The poor energy condition of many buildings in Germany will take its toll from 2027 onwards,” said Jan Peter Hinrichs, managing director of the Federal Association for Energy-Efficient Building Envelopes, which represents manufacturers of insulation materials and windows. “Many owners and tenants will face high additional costs because the facade, roof and windows are outdated. In the worst case, this amounts to many thousands of euros per year.” A new renovation offensive is urgently needed in Germany to protect the population from significant additional burdens. The federal government must once again focus on incentives for measures that reduce the energy requirements of buildings.
Energy-poor houses as an “incalculable cost risk”?
National CO2 pricing currently applies in the building and transport sectors. The CO2 price, currently 45 euros per tonne, will rise to 55 euros next year. From 2026, emissions trading will begin with a fixed price corridor – this provides for a minimum price of 55 euros for a so-called emissions certificate and a maximum price of 65 euros. National emissions trading is to be converted into a European emissions trading system for buildings and transport in 2027.
The study author Andreas Holm from the Research Institute for Thermal Insulation said that it is already clear today that the European emissions trading system does not provide enough emission certificates for the building sector. High CO2 prices are to be expected. Many buildings in poor energy efficiency classes could become an “incalculable cost risk” for their residents and owners.
Source: Stern
