Expert opinion on the German Building Energy Act and the EPBD

Climate neutrality in 2045, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions throughout Germany by 65 % compared to 1990 and a reduction of greenhouse gases in the building sector to 67 million tonnes in 2030, measured according to the source principle: these ambitious milestones must also be reflected in building law, especially in the Building Energy Act (GEG).

In parallel to the German discussion, new revision impulses will be transmitted by the Renovation Wave and the amendment of the EU Buildings Directive (EPBD), but also other directives.

A revision of the Building Energy Act must reconcile both the achievement of targets and an economically sound and at the same time socially acceptable transformation path. It is undisputed that this ambitious goal requires a reduction in consumption through structural heat insulation and the use of renewable energies on a large scale. Important contributions are voluntary action by building owners and incentives from subsidy and tax law; however, these are by far not sufficient to achieve the goal. Regulatory law is therefore of paramount importance. However, the Building Energy Act is considered to be extremely complex and unsatisfactory in its enforcement. The aim of the GEG should be to guide the building stock towards the climate targets and to pave the path towards a climate-neutral building stock

Within the framework of the project, Oeko-Institut deals with the regulatory anchoring of use-obligations, as well as aspects of housing affordability, addressing the tenant-landlord dilemma and detailed legal questions in the context of the amendment to the GEG.