According to the current draft bill to amend the Building Energy Act (GEG) from the House of Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) and Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD), chimney sweeps should in future not only check the heating systems themselves, but in case of doubt also the age of the homeowner.
Because from January 1, 2024 – provided the Bundestag does not decide otherwise – newly installed heating systems must be operated with 65 percent renewable energies. Homeowners over the age of 80 are exempt from the obligation. You may replace your old oil or gas heater with a new fossil fuel heater.
In an interview with FOCUS online, Julian Schwark, Energy Director at the Federal Association of Chimney Sweep Trades, explains how chimney sweeps deal with violations today and in the future.
FOCUS online: Mr Schwark, what does a chimney sweep do if there will only be heat pumps in the future?
Julian Schwark: We have always seen ourselves as companions of the heat transition. 100 years ago, chimney sweeps cleaned fireplaces and chimneys and removed the soot. Most recently, the main focus was on carrying out emission measurements on oil and gas firing systems. Now we are faced with a new transformation process in the direction of heat pumps and district heating networks. We will also make a profitable contribution there.
Do you actually still have a clear view of the new Building Energy Act (GEG)?
Schwark: The GEG is already very extensive. Basically, only a few new paragraphs have been added, which, however, are now causing a stir. Much of the rest remains more or less unchanged.
Do you understand the rush?
Schwark: What is happening now was exactly what was stated in the coalition agreement in December 2021. In this respect, we were not caught off guard.
Homeowners worried about heating plans
What is the feedback from property owners?
Schwark: There is indeed a great deal of uncertainty here. As a homeowner, you cannot understand the current status of the draft bill and the question of whether this affects you or not and, if so, how bad it is, remains unanswered. However, some things can still change in the parliamentary process. We try to contribute as best we can.
However, it seems relatively certain that from 2024 every newly installed heating system will have to be supplied with at least 65 percent from renewable energies. What happens when the chimney sweep discovers that the old fossil fuel heater has simply been replaced with a new fossil fuel heater?
Schwark: Then happens what is happening today. If the chimney sweep detects this violation, the first thing he does is to inform the operator himself. If this improves then everything is fine. If he doesn’t, we report it to the lower competent authority. This can be the building or environmental authorities, for example – and they then take action using the options provided by the Building Energy Act. That means penalties. By the way, according to the current legal situation, it is already not allowed to install a worse heating system than the existing one.
Chimney sweeps do not shut down heating
So the chimney sweep doesn’t shut down the heating?
Schwark: No way. We’re not the ones who go into the basement with the tool box and dismantle the heating. But we are the ones who are on site anyway due to our work. Therefore, these control tasks are linked to our everyday work.
That means for the chimney sweep?
Schwark: As soon as the law has passed the Bundestag, we will start informing our customers accordingly about the specific effects this will have on their heating system. We are not the energy police. We are on the road on behalf of the customer.
How can you actually check whether a heating system is running on 65 percent renewable energy?
Schwark: According to the current status, there is a colorful bouquet of technologies that can be used – from biomass to heat pumps to green gases or direct electricity heating, which can be interconnected in different ways. For some technologies, the legislator has built in a presumption of fulfilment. If, for example, a heat pump is running, it can be assumed that the 65 percent requirement has been met. In the case of complicated wiring of four or five heating systems, which is quite common in larger building complexes, mathematical proof can be provided by an energy consultant. Those are the two extreme cases.
“We would very much like this paragraph to be changed”
Homeowners over the age of 80 are exempt from the replacement obligation. According to the law, the chimney sweeps should take over the age control if the worst comes to the worst. What do you make of it?
Schwark: This can lead to severe rifts. We would therefore like to see this paragraph changed. Setting a blanket 80 years is not a happy rule. There are certainly better solutions that serve the same purpose but lead to less social tension. We prefer to inspect technical systems than people. I imagine it would be very difficult to talk to customers about age. Also, it could lead to a major loss of trust between us and our customers. Therefore, we see this regulation more than critical.
On the subject of fines, the Federal Ministry of Economics says: “In the event of non-compliance/non-compliance with the obligations, the chimney sweep will inform the owner in writing of these obligations or prohibitions and set a reasonable deadline for supplementary performance.” What happens next?
Schwark: We set this reasonable period, for example eight weeks, during which the operator can tell us how he intends to solve the problem. If this deadline is not met, we will forward it to the lower competent authority. We’re out of it.
Are you worried that the mood could change and that’s it soon with the chimney sweep as a symbol of good luck?
Schwark: I do not think so. Even today, we have to inform operators of heating systems that are more than 30 years old that they may no longer be operated. The same applies to stoves that do not comply with certain fine dust values. Here the chimney sweep is simply at the interface between politics and citizens. And they know that we have to implement things and that we don’t think them up ourselves. After all, nobody gets mad at the TÜV inspector when he says your brakes need to be redone.
