“The New Heating Law: Catalog of Fines for Incorrect Heating and its Implications”

Ever since the first mention of the new heating law by Robert Habeck, the innovation has been criticized. As early as 2024, 65 percent of all heating systems are to be operated with renewable energies. Oil and gas heating should disappear completely with a few exceptions and transitional regulations. The new catalog of fines for incorrect heating is unlikely to appeal to homeowners.

Wrong heating systems are expensive in three scales

Basically see that Building Energy Act already proposes some penalties and fines for homeowners. However, the previous catalog is comparatively small. However, Federal Minister of Economics Habeck’s reform brings with it 35 new offenses, the penalties of which citizens pay a lot of money for. The lowest amount is 5,000 euros, followed by 10,000 and 50,000 euros. Incorrect heating can therefore become expensive in the future. But what exactly does the catalog of fines punish?

You face a fine of 5,000 euros if …

• you do not subject your heating system to an inspection or do not do so in good time
• there is no guarantee that you heat with at least 65 percent renewable energy
• you do not keep your statement or do not keep it for at least five years
• after 2030 you will be using natural gas for heating instead of biogas.
• you use natural gas instead of hydrogen for heating after 2035.
• you are not upgrading your heating system with a heat pump.

A fine of 10,000 euros will be due if …

• an inspection of the heating was not carried out in time
• you do not ensure that the new owners are given an energy performance certificate
• an unauthorized energy performance certificate is issued
• you do not ensure that the data given on your energy performance certificate is correct
• you do not ensure that a real estate advertisement covers the mandatory information specified there

There is a fine of 50,000 euros if …

• the limitation of your heat emission and heat absorption is not regulated by pipes and fittings
• you operate an old climate-damaging boiler
• a residential building was not built according to the specifications in terms of its energy requirements and heat loss and you do not ensure that a floor is insulated.

Some sensible penalties meet hard-to-follow targets

Certainly some of the points in this catalog make sense. High penalties for false information given to buyers and forging an energy performance certificate can deter offenders. Since the EU is also working on new specifications for the energy standards for its member states, falsifying energy certificates could be tempting for people in the future to avoid high investment costs. Depending on the size of the building, 100,000 to 150,000 euros could be necessary to meet future requirements. Should higher standards prevail throughout Europe, this could significantly reduce the sales value of many existing buildings. After all, which buyer would pay current list prices for a building in which he then has to invest so much equity? Energy certificates and the real estate market therefore harbor a certain risk that justifies inclusion in the catalog of fines.

In other places, however, it could become a problem for people even if they want to take all measures or react in time. This could be the case if there are not enough companies available in large cities to inspect heating systems. If people have to wait too long for an appointment, there is a high risk that they will eventually not be able to meet deadlines. Likewise, with the current state of the art, it is difficult to meet the 65 percent threshold for heating if you do not rely on heat pumps. Even users of district heating, such as Robert Habeck uses for heating, cannot be sure what percentage of the heating energy comes from renewable resources. Such cases should urgently be taken into account through exception regulations, so that people are not punished for circumstances that they cannot change.