Revamped Rewrite:
Top to Toe Heating Overhaul: Municipal Heat Planning Gains Ground
Homeowners, buckle up! You'll soon need to align with your local authority's heating plan when it's time to install new heating systems. The Federal Council has given the green light to this change with the approval of the municipal heating planning law. However, concerns linger over whether cities will make the deadline.
The Bundesrat endorsed the heating planning law, but Bavaria's push for a mediated discussion fell short. Federal states, particularly large cities, urged the federal government to boost funding for heat planning in urban areas. The Association of Cities and Towns predicted delays, advocating for state-level legislation.
The new law will come into force alongside the Heating Act, beginning January 1, 2024. Large cities must draw up heating plans by the end of 2026, while smaller cities and towns with fewer than 100,000 residents have until 2028. To ensure eco-friendliness, new heating systems will have to rely on at least 65% renewable energy, first applying to new buildings in development areas from 2024.
Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz stressed that homeowners should make informed decisions when replacing heating systems, considering whether central district or local heating networks may be available in the near future. The draft law does not obligate connections, but the government pledges an investment of 500 million euros toward heat planning. The state of Baden-Württemberg seeks permanent, expanded federal funding, advocating for a sustainable heating transition.
Critics from Bavaria and the Association of Cities and Towns voiced concerns about the law's significant financial implications for federal states and local authorities without adequate compensation. They called for swift state-level transposition of the federal heat planning law, essential to cities' ability to collect data on building stocks and existing heating networks.
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The German Association of Cities, under the leadership of Managing Director Helmut Dedy, urged state authorities to expedite the enforcement of the federal heat planning law. City-level heat planning depends on state legislation, enabling cities to collect building stock and heating network data.
Geywitz emphasized that homeowners should prioritize cost-effective heating solutions, considering future connections to district or local heating networks or exploring decentralized options like heat pumps. Keeping the industry in a state of flux is the opposition's criticism, making investments in renewable heating technologies uncertain, an issue that extends to Brussels and the global heat pump market. Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Green Party) outlined the importance of the heating law for decarbonization and pledged government support for climate-friendly heating systems, conditional on income. CDU proposals to encourage low-emission heating solutions and rely on emissions trading remain unclear.
Background Information:
Introduced within the "GEG" (Building Energy Act), the federal law on municipal heating planning incorporates the following guidelines, deadlines, and requirements:
- Transition Periods: New buildings and renovations outside designated areas receive generous transition timelines, with most municipalities having until 2026 or 2028 to comply.
- Implementation Requirements: Municipalities must ensure that at least 65% of new buildings' heating systems rely on renewable energy. Exceptions apply to district heating and direct electric heating systems.
- Existing Buildings: Heating systems older than 30 years and lacking low-temperature or condensing technology must be replaced when inoperable. Homeowners have up to three years to replace irreparable systems with ESG-compliant options.
Sources:
[1] German Energy Agency [2] Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action [3] Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety [4] Solidarity Union for Builders Alliance (SUBA) [5] German Heat Pump Association
