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The Energy Conservation Act (EnEG), the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV) and the Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmG) regulate the same subject matter: energy for buildings. In the current legislative period, existing regulations are beeing harmonised and simplified with the introduction of the Buildings Energy Act which will be amending the Energy Conservation Legislation.
The Energy Conservation Act (Energieeinsparungsgesetz [EnEG])
provides the legal basis for the amendment to the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV),
introduces the obligation of the nearly zero-energy standard for new buildings. This obligation will apply to all new public buildings from 2019 onwards and to all other new buildings as of 2021.
At the request of the German Bundestag, the existing obligation to shut off night storage heaters is also being repealed. The reason for doing so, as stated by the Bundestag, is to harness the potential of these heaters as local storage facilities within the framework of the energy transition.
Energy Conservation Ordinance
The Energy Conservation Ordinance 2014 entered into force on 1 May 2014. The key amendments are as follows:
Higher efficiency standards are to be applied to new buildings: from 1 January 2016, new buildings require a reduction of approximately 25 per cent in terms of primary energy consumption and around 20 per cent in terms of heat transfer loss (the latter one reflecting the thermal insulation of the building shell).
Building stock: no tightening of the requirements to external components of existing buildings in the event of their replacement. Tightened requirements apply to just two special cases which are of minor relevance (replacement of shop windows and external doors). These are brought into line with the requirements stipulated under Energy Conservation Ordinance 2009.
Introduction of the obligation to disclose key energy figures in real estate advertisements when selling and renting properties.
Clarification of the existing obligation to present the energy performance certificate to potential buyers and tenants (energy performance certificate must be made available to a potential buyer or tenant at the viewing stage).
Introduction of the obligation to hand over the energy certificate to the buyer or new tenant.
Extension to smaller buildings of the existing duty to display energy performance certificates in buildings used by public authorities and frequently visited by the public.
Introduction of the obligation to display energy performance certificates in certain buildings which are frequently visited by the public, but which are not occupied by public authorities.
Introduction of an independent system for spot checks of energy performance certificates and reports on the inspection of air conditioning systems.
Recording of efficiency classes in energy performance certificates for residential buildings as well as the obligation to provide notification in real estate advertisements when selling and letting property.
Obligation to decommission constant temperature boilers installed before 1 January 1985 or which have been in service for more than 30 years (previous qualifying date of 1 January 1978; boilers in certain one and two-family dwellings occupied by the owner continue to be excluded from this regulation).
Failure to comply with some of the new obligations will result in a fine.
In order to adequately respond to the increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers in 2015 and to meet the needs for housing, the EnEV (current version of October 24, 2015, PDF: 251 KB, in german) was extended by §25 a - buildings for asylum seekers and refugees (in german).
Renewable Energies Heat Act
The Renewable Energies Heat Act stipulates an obligation to use renewable energies in new buildings and – in the case of public sector buildings – also when carrying out major renovations. The Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG) is therefore a key component in the system of promoting renewable energies.
Further information on the Renewable Energies Heat Act, funding conditions and accompanying funding measures can be found here (only in German).
Heating Cost Ordinance
The ordinance governing the consumption-based billing of heat and hot water costs (Heating Cost Ordinance; first adopted in 1981) governs the allocation of costs for heating and hot water production in centrally supplied buildings with two or more units. It also regulates the obligation to carry out metering as well as the fitting of technical equipment for metering. Residential buildings consisting of just two dwellings, one of which is occupied by the owner himself, are not covered by the ordinance.
The aim of the ordinance is to encourage users to save energy by making a considerable share of the costs to be billed dependent on the user's level of consumption. In this respect, it takes priority over any other regulations set out in tenancy agreements.
Since 1 January 2009, the applicable law has been the version dating from 5 October 2009, which is based on the amending ordinance of 2 December 2008. The main changes compared to the previous version (Heating Cost Ordinance 1989) concerned the provisions under Section 7 (Cost Allocation for the Supply of Heat) and Section 9 (Cost Allocation for the Supply of Heat and Hot Water in Combined Systems). An exemption from the obligation to carry out metering also acts as an incentive to attain the passive house standard in the construction of new buildings or the refurbishment of multiple-family dwellings.
The EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) (in German) 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted on 25 October 2012 has established a metering and cost allocation system at European level as well. From the perspective of the German Federal Government, this has not resulted in the need for additional legislation in relation to the Heating Cost Ordinance.
The latest revision of the EED of December 11, 2018 (2018/2002/EU) necessitates a revision of the Heat Cost Ordinance with regards to remote reading and sub-annual consumption information.
Further information is available from the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (www.bbsr.bund.de) and on the BBSR Info Portal.
