Wie die Wärmewende sozial gestaltet werden kann
Energetische Modernisierung und grüne Wärme entlasten besser als Klimageld und Energiepreisbremsen – wenn die Bundesförderung entsprechend weiterentwickelt wird
Energy efficiency renovation and green heat will provide higher financial savings than refunds on CO2 pricing or energy price subsidies - if the German financial incentive scheme is enhanced accordingly
For a successful heating transition to net zero emission buildings, we need to reduce heat demand through energy efficiency modernisation—i.e., better thermal insulation, heat recovery, and energy management—and to convert the heating systems to zero-carbon technologies. This will not only be for the benefit of the climate but also enhance social equity, if policy-makers do it right. In this “Zukunftsimpuls”, researchers from the Wuppertal Institute discuss the facts and the measures that would be appropriate for reaching these objectives.
In Germany, people in economically disadvantaged households predominantly live in rented dwellings. For social equity reasons, energy efficiency renovation and heating system conversion should not increase the total rents for these but also for other tenants. According to the analysis, this would require enhancements of German financial incentive scheme for these investments in rented dwellings. Currently, however, the incentive rates are higher for owner-occupied homes and apartments. Therefore, the grants to support energy efficiency renovation and heating system conversion in rented dwellings will need to be increased by at least 20 per cent. In addition, it should be accompanied by further measures that provide practical implementation support to building owners. This would be indispensable for implementing the heating transition while enhancing social equity—which is an important precondition for achieving the national climate change mitigation targets.
Stefan Thomas, Birte Schnurr, Oliver Wagner:
Wie die Wärmewende sozial gestaltet werden kann
Energetische Modernisierung und grüne Wärme entlasten besser als Klimageld und Energiepreisbremsen – wenn die Bundesförderung entsprechend weiterentwickelt wird
Wuppertal, 2024
(Zukunftsimpuls no. 29)