As of: January 31, 2024, 4:00 p.m
By: Anne Hund
Comments
Press
Split
The consumer advice center is currently advising homeowners against installing a new gas or oil heating system in view of the likely higher gas and oil prices in the future.
How can energy costs be reduced?
The energy advice from the Hamburg Consumer Center is currently advising property owners against installing a new gas or oil heating system “in view of rising gas and oil prices”.
Even if this is still legally possible on a temporary basis.
The development of emission costs shows that there are “significant price risks” associated with gas and oil heating, writes the Hamburg consumer advice center in a statement (as of January 25, 2024).
Consumer advice center: Probably higher gas and oil prices in the future
Since January 1, 2024, the CO2 price for natural gas and heating oil per ton has been 45 euros.
Previously it was 30 euros.
“A further increase is planned for the coming years,” says the Hamburg consumer advice center.
In addition, there would be no energy price brakes and a higher VAT for natural gas.
The normal VAT rate of 19 percent will be due on gas again from March, as the German Press Agency reported.
The tax rate of seven percent, which has been reduced since October 2022, currently applies.
High costs: How can consumers reduce energy consumption?
What can you do to save on heating costs?
“In addition to energy prices and the associated taxes and duties, individual energy consumption is a decisive factor for the costs incurred,” says Silke Langhoff from the Hamburg Consumer Center.
For example, retroactively insulating a house can save more than 40 percent on heating costs.
“Another adjustment screw is the heating itself,” continues Langhoff.
“In many cases, heating systems work inefficiently and have temperatures that are too high or give off heat that is not needed.” Heating control offers a lot of potential for reducing heat losses.
This would allow flow temperatures to be reduced and heating times to be adapted to requirements.
When it comes to individual energy consumption, some savings can be made in one place or another.
(Symbolic image) © CHROMORANGE/Imago
The tip is that every central heating system should also be optimized through hydraulic balancing.
A measure that is carried out by the heating specialist company, as emphasized by the Hamburg consumer advice center.
Your own heat consumption can also be reduced, for example by slightly lowering the room temperature.
Would you like valuable money-saving tips?
Merkur.de's “Clever Save” newsletter always has the best money-saving tips for you every Thursday.
Save money with small steps when heating at home
Sometimes even small changes help when it comes to better controlling your own consumption.
The numbers on heating thermostats represent specific temperature ranges.
Anyone who knows them can better adapt their heating behavior and thereby save energy.
Last but not least, you should remember to vent the heater regularly.
Either the radiators then have to be vented using an appropriate key in order to heat energy efficiently again.
Or you can get an automatic radiator vent.
The Hamburg Consumer Center points out that you may also be able to save money by switching providers.
However, consumers should not act hastily here, but should first compare various options in detail.