Associations call for an affordable heating transition for all

20.03.2025

Source: E & M powernews

A broad alliance of business, social and environmental associations is calling on the German government to maintain the current Heating Act (GEG). The BNE is also involved.

An alliance of 21 business, social and environmental associations is campaigning for the continuation of the amendment to the Building Energy Act (GEG). The alliance is calling for new heating systems to continue to be predominantly powered by renewable energies in order to avoid long-term dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, the funding must be designed in such a way that all households can make the switch to climate-friendly heating systems.

"The GEG creates planning security for municipalities and companies, strengthens innovation and ensures that heating remains affordable," says the joint appeal. The signatories include the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND), the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV), Greenpeace, Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) and the Bundesverband Neue Energiewirtschaft (BNE).

Hydrogen and natural gas have no future

The organizations are particularly critical of the discussion surrounding the use of hydrogen or biomethane in gas heating systems. According to the alliance, this exposes consumers to higher costs and uncertainty. The associations are also in favor of sticking to the existing deadlines for municipal heating planning.

Patrick Rohde, Deputy Director of Policy at BUND, warns against new fossil fuel dependencies: "Without the current guard rails, the door would be opened to expensive and climate-damaging sham solutions such as hydrogen heating systems."

Joachim Rock, Managing Director of the Paritätischer Gesamtverband, adds: "We need a social heating transition that includes socially staggered subsidies, effective tenant protection and targeted support for non-profit organizations." A study published in February by the Öko-Institut and the social association (we reported) shows that the GEG can reduce CO2 emissions in a more targeted and fairer way than pure market regulation via the CO2 price, according to Rock.

More than one million new gas heating systems since 2023

According to Tanja Loitz, Managing Director of CO2-online, many homeowners are still opting for gas heating despite rising costs - more than 1.2 million new systems have been installed in the last two years alone. However, the framework conditions have tightened. The association's appeal: "Due to the rising CO2 price, increasing network charges and legal restrictions, heating with gas is becoming significantly more expensive. Renewable energies and energy-efficient refurbishment are the best protection against high heating costs."

The Managing Director of the BNE, Robert Busch, also emphasizes the importance of the GEG: "It reduces our dependence on natural gas and oil imports with renewable free energy and thus strengthens our resilience." The alliance is calling on the German government to send a clear signal for the heating transition and not to water down the existing regulation.

The association's appeal for the heating transition is available online.

Author: Susanne Harmsen