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Habeck's heating law: chimney sweeps should check the age of homeowners - "not the energy police"

2023-04-23T12:29:42.427Z


Chimney sweeps are not in good spirits about Robert Habeck's heating law. They probably play an unpopular role in the ban on oil and gas heating.


Chimney sweeps are not in good spirits about Robert Habeck's heating law.

They probably play an unpopular role in the ban on oil and gas heating.

Munich – From lucky charm to bogeyman?

A development that could soon overtake chimney sweeps as a result of Robert Habeck's heating law.

After all, it seems as if chimney sweeps are now becoming age inspectors in addition to their actual job as a result of the Economics Minister's ban on oil and gas heating systems.

At least that's how the draft for the amendment of the Building Energy Act (GEG) shows Habeck's heating plans.

The Heating Act stipulates that in future chimney sweeps will not only check the heating system, but also the age of the homeowner in case of doubt.

Habeck's heating law: chimney sweeps should check oil and gas heating systems and the age of the homeowners

As soon as it is passed by the Bundestag, the Building Energy Act stipulates that from January 1, 2024, all newly installed heating systems will run on 65 percent renewable energies.

Homeowners over the age of 80 are exempt from this rule.

In Habeck's heating law, they are still allowed to install new oil or gas heating systems for their old ones.

However, this age must be checked and the chimney sweeps are probably used for this.

Habeck's heating plans: In addition to oil and gas heating systems, chimney sweeps should also check the age of homeowners

The corresponding passage in §71i (2) GEG reads: The age of the building owner at the time and the building ownership at the time of installation or installation of the heating system for the purpose of commissioning must be proven to the authorized district chimney sweep as part of the fireplace inspection of the heating system or with a written self-declaration to the authorized district chimney sweep.

What else can be installed according to Habeck's heating plans?

The federal government's plans envisage that from next year basically only heat pumps, solar thermal systems or hybrid systems consisting of heat pumps and gas heating will be installed.

Existing oil and gas heating systems can continue to be operated for the time being.

Broken heaters may be repaired.

Transitional periods and exceptions are intended to facilitate the exchange.

The general uncertainty about Habeck's heating plans can be felt across the country among property and home owners.

Above all, the chimney sweeps' phones are currently ringing around the clock because of Habeck's heating law.

Almost 200,000 customer contacts a day are actually the norm.

Julian Schwark currently sees this as an exception.

"Now our companies are getting so many calls and inquiries that it's many times more." And practically all callers want to know "what's next with the heating systems," explains the Energy Director at the Federal Association of Chimney Sweep Trades via the Berliner

Morgenpost

.

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On the other hand, Schwark was not very enthusiastic about the plans that are anchored in Habeck's heating plans and involve the chimney sweeps massively in the controls of the oil and heating ban.

"The fact that chimney sweeps should check the age of homeowners in the future seems absurd," the board of directors initially

criticized moderately in the

world

.

"We're enforcing administrative law, and we're not really responsible for that.

We test technical systems and not individual citizens.”

Habeck's heating law: chimney sweeps should check the age of homeowners - "not the energy police"

In an interview with

focus online,

however, Schwark became clearer about Habeck's heating law and the inclusion of chimney sweeps in monitoring the ban on oil and gas heating for homeowners.

"As soon as the law is passed by the Bundestag, we will start informing our customers accordingly about the specific effects this will have on their heating system," explains Schwark, emphasizing: "We are not the energy police.

We are on the road on behalf of the customer.”

Nevertheless, in future the chimney sweeps should not only check the age of the heaters, but also the age of the owners.

However, why the limit was set at 80 years in the Building Energy Act remains a mystery.

Habeck's heating law: Economics Minister defends the exception for over 80-year-olds

The Federal Minister of Economics recently spoke to the

Funke media group

about the exception for over 80-year-olds in the ban on oil and gas heating.

“We want to introduce a blanket exception for very old people.

If your heating breaks down and is irreparable, you don't have to switch to renewable heating," Robert Habeck (Greens) defended his heating law without giving specific reasons for the decision.

To ensure that Habeck's heating plans do not destroy old-age provision, there seems to be an option for up to 79-year-olds not to "shoot themselves in the foot" and face financial ruin by replacing the heating system.

+

According to Habeck's heating plans, chimney sweeps should not only check heating systems, but also the age of house and property owners.

© Imagebroker/Political-Moments/Westend61/imago

However, Habeck went on to say that under 80-year-olds would also have the opportunity to apply for an exception despite the planned heating law.

The prerequisite for this would be “an unreasonable hardship”, which would mean replacing the heating system.

For everyone, "including the 79-year-old, there is still the possibility of specifically applying for an exception".

For everyone else, Habeck's heating law could result in high fines.

List of rubrics: © Imagebroker/Political-Moments/Westend61/imago

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2023-04-23

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