Now that the Building Energy Act has finally been passed, it is also possible to heat sustainably with wood. Fine dust or not, modern fireplaces finally have a fine dust filter.
Property owners should not be forced to replace their heating systems; defective units may be repaired and continue to be operated. Transitional periods apply to the replacement of heating systems in order to dovetail the renewal of the boiler room with the municipal heating plans. It is planned that in cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, a local heating plan should be available by mid-2026. For smaller municipalities, this is to apply until mid-2028. Only when the heat plans have been officially adopted will the 65 percent rule apply.
There are also climate regulations for new systems installed in existing buildings in the absence of heat plans in the transition period until mid-2026 or mid-2028. From 2029, they must use an increasing proportion of biomass or hydrogen for heat generation. From 2029, it will be at least 15 percent, from 2035 at least 30 percent and from 2040 at least 60 percent.
According to the GEG, a ban on oil and gas heating will come into effect on 1 January 2045. Only then may buildings be heated exclusively with climate-neutral renewable energies.
