Climate Policy Framework for Amending the Energy Saving Act

The research project examines to what extent the current German Energy Saving Act (EnEG) can prospectively be improved in its effectiveness in view of the requirements of climate and environmental protection. The focus of the analysis is placed on climate protection measures in the building stock. It was assessed whether, or on the basis of which legal changes, the legislative body can effectuate, within legal boundaries, a tightening of the restoration standard set as the legal norm (analysis of the imperative of economic viability underlying the EnEG). Moreover, various new instrument approaches (e.g. to increase the installation of heating systems based on renewable energy sources) or amendments of existing instruments are discussed, which also pursue the goal of better exploiting the efficiency potential in the building stock. The interaction between the new instrument approaches and the legal framework spanning the EnEG and EnEV is accorded a special role in the analysis.