12. December 2020
Many homeowners will be faced with replacing their existing oil heating system in the next few years. As a real estate agency, we would like to inform you about the Building Energy Act (GEG), which came into force on 1 November 2020.
The GEG merges the Energy Saving Act (EnEG), Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) and Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG) into one modern law. It creates a standardised, coordinated set of regulations for the energy requirements for new buildings, existing buildings and the use of renewable energies to supply heating and cooling to buildings.
What does the new Building Energy Act (GEG) regulate and does it affect you as the owner of a detached or semi-detached house in Plauen?
- Immediate action is required for homeowners whose heating system was installed or set up before 1 January 1991 and is operated with a liquid or gaseous fuel. An operating ban comes into force here. The above-mentioned heating systems are also affected if they have been in operation for 30 years from installation or commissioning after 1 January 1991.
However, there are also exceptions:
- the boiler is not a "standard boiler" but already a low-temperature or condensing boiler
- the house consists of a maximum of two flats, one of which has been occupied by the house owner since 1 February 2002. In this case, the obligation to retrofit or replace the boiler only has to be fulfilled by the new homeowner when the property changes hands after 1 February 2002. The deadline for fulfilment is then 2 years after the transfer of ownership.
However, anyone wishing to replace their old oil heating system with a new one should do so by 31 December 2025, as from 1 January 2026, a new oil heating system may only be installed if the system is operated as a hybrid system. In this case, renewable energies must be used, e.g. with the help of a solar thermal system.
If the new oil heating system cannot be combined with renewable energies and there is no connection to a gas or district heating network, the installation of an oil-only heating system will still be permitted after 1 January 2026.
To what extent your current heating system in a detached or semi-detached house is affected by the new regulations of the Building Energy Act, it is best to ask your responsible chimney sweep or check your notification of the fireplace inspection in advance.