- Habeck is advertising the heat pump.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck advises property owners to quickly switch to a heat pump. "As long as I am Minister, we will maintain the promotion steadily," Habeck said during a visit to heat pump manufacturer Stiebel Eltron in Lower Saxony's Holzminden. "Waiting is not worth it. Now is the time if one wants to replace an old gas or oil heater." The CDU/CSU has announced that it will reduce the promotion. "You never know how elections will turn out."
Habeck: Heat pump increases the value of buildings
With the Building Energy Act, which came into force at the beginning of the year, the switch to a climate-friendly heater can be promoted with up to 70 percent. In addition to a basic promotion, there is a speed bonus and an income bonus. The maximum eligible investment costs are 30,000 euros for a single-family house. "The heat pump ensures that the value of buildings increases. A heat pump saves money," Habeck promoted. He will still be traveling through Northern Germany until Wednesday and will be attending appointments related to the heat pump.
However, the sale of heat pumps has collapsed this year compared to the previous year. Stiebel Eltron, a German manufacturer that has specialized in heat pumps for decades, is suffering from this like the industry as a whole. Habeck attributed the decline to the sluggish construction industry due to high interest rates and weak consumer spending due to high inflation. Furthermore, climate-friendly technologies in the heating sector are being introduced later than originally planned with the new Heating Act.
Stiebel Eltron is preparing for job cuts
The chairman of the supervisory board, Ulrich Stiebel, admitted that his company would not be able to avoid "a personnel measure now." At the same time, he denied a report by the "Handelsblatt" that around 1,000 employees could be affected. "Yes, we have to reduce personnel, but not on this scale." Since March, a part of the workforce has been in short-time work. Stiebel Eltron has approximately 2,600 to 2,700 employees at its German locations and around 5,500 worldwide, according to a company spokesperson.
During his visit, Habeck also spoke to around 25 representatives of IG Metall and the works council, who had gathered. They demanded, among other things, a more predictable policy and relief for energy-intensive companies.
Habeck emphasized the importance of German manufacturers like Stiebel Eltron in the transition towards climate-friendly heating solutions. With the decline in heat pump sales this year, Habeck acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry but stressed the potential for growth in Germany, being a key market for heat pumps.
Given the current promotional measures in place for heat pumps in Germany, property owners in Germany might consider investing in a heat pump, as it not only contributes to climate-friendliness but also increases the value of their buildings.
