From presumably 1 October 2009, the energy performance requirements for buildings in Germany will be tightened by approx. 30%. In mid March 2009, the Federal Government accepted several changes to the proposed amended energy saving ordinance, which were required by the Federal Council of Germany. The amended ordinance will immediately be published in the Federal Law Gazette and will go into force in autumn 2009.
The essential modifications of the ordinance are:
- The maximum allowed primary energy demand for new buildings will be reduced by 30% on average.
- The requirements on the thermal insulation of new buildings will be tightened by 15% on average.
- The requirements for renewed building elements in retrofitted buildings with major renovations will be tightened by 30% on average.
- Accessible top floor ceilings in existing buildings have to be insulated before the end of 2011.
- Off-peak electrical storage heating systems, older than 30 years, in larger buildings have to be replaced with efficient heating systems by 2020.
The German Government plans to have the next revision of the ordinance in 2012. It will include another tightening of the energy performance requirements by about 30%.
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