Handelsblatt: Hambeck’s plan to save natural gas in Germany

Federal Economy Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is concretizing his plans to save natural gas, according to Handelsblatt. On Friday, he submitted two decrees for approval by the ministry. The first of the two decrees is set to take effect on September 1 and the second one a month later.

The decrees affect every citizen as well as businesses and public authorities. Their purpose is to contribute to the achievement of the goal of reducing natural gas consumption in Germany by 20%. According to the Federal Network Agency, efforts to date have already yielded savings of between 5% and 8%. These savings are mainly due to industry.

According to information from government circles, the two decrees are expected to bring about 2% savings. Regardless, reducing the use of natural gas to generate electricity is expected to result in savings of three to five percent.

To reach the 20% target, another five to ten percent must be saved. Here, the Federal Ministry of Economy is counting on additional savings efforts in industry and building heating. This mainly includes reducing the thermostats of the radiators. The rule of thumb is: Lowering the room temperature by one degree Celsius results in savings of five to six percent.

Reducing the room temperature in homes and workplaces by two degrees on average would reduce gas consumption in Germany across all sectors by around three percent.

Here is an overview of the decrees

Regulation 1, which will come into force on 1 September:

More scope for tenants: Tenants will have more scope to save energy. Currently, there are clauses in some leases that set a minimum temperature in rental rooms. This means that if tenants want to heat less, they are breaking their lease agreements. Therefore, these contractual obligations should be temporarily suspended to allow tenants who want to save energy and turn down the heating to do so. Damage to buildings must be avoided by proper ventilation behavior.

Prohibition of heating for non-public swimming pools: It is forbidden to heat swimming pools that are heated with natural gas and electricity in indoor and outdoor areas. This only applies to private pools that are not used commercially and are located in private gardens or residential buildings.

Heating of public buildings: Rooms in public buildings where people do not regularly spend time, such as corridors or large halls, foyers or technical areas, should no longer be heated. Exceptions apply if security requirements oppose this.

Workplaces in public buildings: In order to take into account the exemplary operation of the public sector in saving natural gas, a maximum temperature of 19 degrees will be temporarily set in public properties. The recommended minimum temperature for offices is 20 degrees. Clinics and care facilities and other social institutions will be exempted from this.

Prohibition of water heaters in public buildings: In public buildings, boilers and water heaters should no longer be used to prepare hot water for wash basins, unless sanitary regulations contradict this.

Lighting of buildings or monuments: The lighting of buildings or monuments that have a purely representative or aesthetic function must be switched off.

Better information about energy consumption: Natural gas suppliers as well as owners of larger residential buildings will be obliged to inform their tenants of expected energy consumption, associated costs and potential savings in good time, at least at the start of the heating season.

Outdoor advertising: Illuminated advertising installations must be turned off between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Regulation 2 will come into force on 1 October:

Mandatory annual heating check: Many heaters consume an unnecessary amount of energy, for example because they are still operating at the factory setting or without night reduction. Those who regularly check and optimize their heating systems can therefore save energy and money. This includes, for example, reducing flow temperatures or less heating at night. All owners of buildings with natural gas heating systems must carry out this heating check. To ensure that this succeeds, the heating control will be provided for in the future by law: with a deadline until the end of the penultimate heating season (2023/24).

Mandatory hydraulic balancing: With hydraulic balancing, greater efficiency can also be achieved, because the heating water is distributed in the best possible way. In future, all owners of large buildings with gas-based central heating must carry out this balancing, if it has not been carried out to date. This applies to companies and public buildings as well as large residential buildings with six or more dwellings. For residential buildings with ten or more dwellings, this must be done by September 2023, and for six or more dwellings by September 2024. As this is a maintenance measure, the cost is borne by the owner or landlord.

Mandatory replacement of inefficient heating pumps: The replacement of inefficient, uncontrolled heat pumps in buildings with natural gas heating systems will become mandatory. Uncontrolled heating pumps, such as heating circuit pumps or circulation pumps, are large energy consumers.

Obligation to apply economic efficiency measures to companies: Large energy consumers from the business sector will be required to implement certain energy efficiency measures from 1 October. This obligation applies to companies that have already carried out an energy audit – that is, an analysis of their consumption and potential savings – in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Services Act. The short-term measures put forward in this regard are, for example, the replacement of lighting with LEDs, the optimization of work processes and technical systems, especially compressed air systems. Companies are also required to hydraulically balance heating systems and replace inefficient heat pumps.