Real estate - The EU restructuring compromise receives praise and criticism
The EU agreement on new requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings has met with criticism from environmentalists. However, associations representing homeowners, the housing industry and the skilled trades have been largely positive, partly because they believe that a comprehensive refurbishment obligation for particularly poorly insulated residential buildings is off the table.
Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU member states have agreed on stricter requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings in the fight against climate change. Specifically, the energy consumption of residential buildings is to be reduced by 16% on average by 2030 and by 20 to 22% by 2035.
For non-residential buildings, the regulations stipulate that 16% of the least energy-efficient buildings must be renovated by 2030 and 26% by 2033. The EU member states are largely free to determine how these targets are to be achieved.
Competition of concerns
The owners' association Haus & Grund stated that the risk of a massive drop in the value of buildings due to specific renovation obligations is off the table. "Nevertheless, homeowners in Germany and throughout Europe are facing enormous challenges," said association president Kai Warnecke with regard to the agreed savings targets. The Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies spoke of a good path. It is undisputed that CO2 emissions from buildings must be reduced. According to the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, even stricter targets could have hit owners hard.
Irmela Colaço, building expert at the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), said that a key measure for climate protection in buildings had been downgraded to a bedside rug. She would have liked to see stricter requirements for very poorly constructed and therefore inefficient buildings. These were fueling the climate crisis and energy poverty. Similar criticism came from Naturschutzbund Deutschland (Nabu). "People with low incomes often live in poorly renovated buildings, which means they also have to struggle with high energy costs," emphasized Nabu President Jörg-Andreas Krüger. People who live in poorly renovated buildings that consume more energy are also hit harder by high energy prices.
Read also:
- Why there is still no EU funding for green Saar steel
- 3 billion Saar Fund is unconstitutional
- Politicians at a loss after shock news
- Court of Auditors criticizes the state government's debt plan
Source: www.stern.de
