The traffic light coalition has agreed on the key points for the Building Energy Act (GEG). The law will be set up in this session week in the Bundestag for the first reading, so now enters the parliamentary procedure and should be passed before the summer break – and then come into force with 1 January 2024.
Madeleine Linke, state chairwoman of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN Saxony-Anhalt, explains:
“It is good that the Building Energy Act is finally coming! This will also make heating in Germany climate-friendly and affordable for the near future. The end of the fossil fuel era has thus also been ushered in in the building sector. I am particularly pleased that mandatory municipal heating planning will be introduced across the whole of Germany.
This heat planning is to be completed in all municipalities by 2028 at the latest. This is a major step forward and means planning security for a great many citizens. In principle, our municipalities historically have a lot of local and district heating pipelines that need to be used.
To ensure that rural communities also make progress with their heat planning, they need specialist staff to draw up heat plans and support in the form of advice and for applications, e.g. via the Saxony-Anhalt State Energy Agency (LENA). This support should be deployed locally and decentrally and be responsible for one to three counties, for example. The state should initiate this and, if it is not eligible for federal funding, also fund it.
Until 2028, however, consumers are already well advised to opt for climate-friendly and reliable models when installing new heating technology in old and existing buildings, as fossil fuel heating is likely to become significantly more expensive.
Yesterday’s agreement brings with it the opportunity to calm the heated debate through the proper parliamentary legislative process in the Bundestag and to strengthen society’s support for climate protection once again.”