A new study conducted by the Wuppertal Institute on behalf of Greenpeace has found that all buildings in Germany can be heated using renewable energy sources by 2035. The study calls for a ban on gas and oil heating systems to be implemented soon. Currently, the German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, plans for 65% of heating systems to be based on renewable energy by 2025. However, Greenpeace believes that a ban on new oil and gas heating systems from 2024 and the continued use of existing systems until 2035 is necessary to achieve their realistic goal. The organization is urging the German government to implement an immediate program to heat buildings without oil and gas, including a comprehensive funding program for solar thermal systems and heat pumps.
To achieve the goal of heating all buildings with renewable energy sources, the energy demand of buildings must also be reduced. The program includes a mandatory requirement to renovate inefficient buildings to reach at least efficiency class B by 2040. The authors of the study suggest that this can be achieved through a federal funding program that would finance the renovation of at least 3% of buildings per year. The accelerated transition to renewable energy sources for heating would not only have a positive impact on the environment but also create approximately 500,000 new jobs and save Germany €11.5 billion annually from 2035 by avoiding the use of gas and coal.
Greenpeace is calling on the German government to implement the program this year, as the continued installation of oil and gas heating systems will only make the transition more expensive. The study highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goals. The transition to renewable energy sources for heating would not only benefit the environment but also have economic advantages for households, businesses, and public institutions.
