Since the new federal government took office around six months ago, the political focus has shifted. Some terms related to heating, air conditioning, and energy are even causing resistance in some quarters. Nevertheless, Germany cannot avoid the energy transition, and needs practical solutions.
The Building Energy Act (GEG) continues to provide a central but challenging framework for the energy transition. However, the momentum of the political debate has slowed significantly. The economic environment has changed: consumers are having to tighten their belts and are now setting different priorities for renovation work than they did in times of cheap money.
According to observations by VDIV Germany, it is now becoming apparent that the basic structure of the Building Energy Act will remain unchanged. Section 71, which stipulates that at least 65 percent renewable energies must be used when installing new heating systems, is expected to remain unchanged. The new edition of the Verwalter-Monitor highlights the gap between political aspirations and financial reality. The expanded survey makes it clear that comprehensive energy-efficient renovation measures are not financially viable for many homeowners' associations (WEG).
88.9 percent of the property management companies surveyed consider the reserves of the condominium owners' associations they manage to be insufficient to finance comprehensive energy-efficient renovations from their own funds. However, 30.9 percent of the management companies state that individual measures, such as replacing heating systems, are feasible.
The bureaucratic and organizational hurdles are also high, leading to corresponding delays in subsidy applications, tenders, and coordination. Only 16.5 percent of the participating property management companies have sufficient personnel capacity to manage renovation projects themselves. What is needed is a reliable funding framework, a massive reduction in bureaucracy, and economic relief for owners.
Graphic: © Bernswaelz, Pixabay
