Saving energy is now important for everyone and everything

Unusual times call for unusual measures. A previous federal government would probably hardly have thought of calling on every single German citizen to save energy. The motto that consumption benefits the economy and is a sign of prosperity was too much in the foreground. This is different now - at least with regard to energy consumption. 

Saving energy is the order of the day - for everyone. However, in the view of the German Tenants' Association (DMB), a legally prescribed throttling of the heating temperature for the residential sector is the completely wrong way to go. It particularly affects those who are dependent on higher flat temperatures, for example, because of their age or illness. Moreover, such a measure would in no way do justice to the heterogeneous building stock. As before, those who have to pay the most energy costs are those who live in the houses with the worst energy condition, emphasises the German Tenants' Association.

The owners' association Haus & Grund Deutschland, on the other hand, considers the proposal to lower the minimum temperature to be sensible. One must now prepare for all eventualities. One degree less room temperature means seven percent less energy consumption. All consumers, whether tenants or owner-occupiers, are called upon to optimise their heating behaviour.

The move away from oil, gas and coal is far from complete, and the switch to renewable energies is particularly necessary. Wood energy, large-scale heat pumps and large-scale solar thermal plants are to feed green heat into the pipes of the heating networks in the future and thus reduce dependence on oil and gas. At least things are moving forward: 50.6 percent of the residential buildings completed in 2021 already have heat pumps installed as their primary heating system. In 2015, the share was still 31.4 percent. Gas heating systems are used less and less: they are used as the primary heating system in 34.3 percent of new buildings, compared to 51.5 percent in 2015. Overall, according to the Federal Statistical Office, the share of renewable energies as a source of heating energy rose from 61.5 to 70.7 percent between 2015 and 2021.

(Photo: © Gerd Altmann, Pixabay)