
Germany: Energy saving requirements from September 1st
The new regulation affects three areas: energy saving measures in private households, in public buildings and in companies. What exactly should you pay attention to?
The current turmoil on the electricity and gas markets has prompted the German government to adopt new energy saving guidelines. The Ordinance to Secure Energy Supply on Short-Term Effective Measures ( EnSikuMaV ) applies from September 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023. A second one on “medium-term effective measures” ( EnSimiMaV ) is currently being assessed and is scheduled to come into force on October 1.
These are the most important regulations that currently apply:
- Retail shop doors should not be left open permanently if this causes heat to escape
- no neon signs between 10 p.m. and 4 p.m
- no exterior lighting of buildings, no illumination of monuments
- Maximum temperatures in work rooms in public buildings
- no heating of hallways in public buildings
The Short-Term Energy Supply Security Measures Ordinance – yes, the official name is really that unwieldy – affects three areas: measures to save energy in private households, in public non-residential buildings, and in companies.
What applies to private households?
Some rental agreements specify minimum temperatures that must be adhered to. The “tenant's obligation to prevent damage to the rented property through appropriate heating and ventilation behavior” is therefore suspended with regard to heating until the end of February. If you want to turn down the heating and save energy, you can do so now.
Indoor and outdoor private pools may no longer be heated with gas or electricity from the mains. There are exceptions for “absolutely necessary therapeutic applications”. Commercial swimming and bathing pools in rehabilitation centers, hotels and leisure facilities are not affected by this regulation.
How are public buildings affected?
The regulations in the EnSikuMaV concern public non-residential buildings.
Depending on the activity, work rooms may only be heated up to certain temperatures. For physically light work: 19 °C when sitting, 18 °C when standing. For medium-heavy work: 18 °C when sitting, 16 °C when standing. During strenuous physical activity: 12 °C. Excluded from this are medical facilities, assistance and care facilities for the disabled, schools and daycare centers as well as “facilities where higher air temperatures are particularly necessary to maintain the health of the people staying there”.
Common areas in public non-residential buildings “that are not used for the stay of people” may no longer be heated. This probably primarily affects stairs and hallways in these buildings. Exceptions apply again as described in the last paragraph, as well as “heating to protect technology installed there or objects and materials stored there” or if damage to the buildings is to be expected due to non-heating.
Drinking water may be heated more if it is primarily intended for hand washing. Hot water temperatures must be limited. Exceptions for hygiene reasons, Legionella prevention and if the water is necessary to operate showers. Further exceptions apply to medical facilities, disability assistance and care facilities and daycare centers.
Illuminating “buildings and monuments from the outside” is prohibited. Exceptions: Safety and emergency lighting, to maintain traffic safety or ward off other dangers and at short notice as part of cultural events and folk festivals.
What are the energy saving measures in companies?
Suppliers and owners of residential buildings now have an obligation to provide information about price increases if the residential units are supplied with gas or heat. This includes a list of energy consumption and costs for the last billing period, an estimate of the costs for the current period and information about the calculated savings potential if the temperature is reduced by an average of 1 °C.
Retailers are no longer allowed to keep shop doors and entrance systems open permanently if this results in a loss of heating heat. There is an exception for escape routes.
There are also restrictions on the use of illuminated and light-emitting advertising systems. Operations are now prohibited between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Exception: to maintain traffic safety or to ward off other dangers.
For work rooms in private workplaces, there are (now lowered) minimum temperatures that correspond to the maximum temperatures listed above for work rooms in public buildings - i.e. from 12 °C for heavy physical activity to 19 °C for light physical activity while sitting.
The draft is in line with the federal government's guiding principles on sustainable development in the sense of the German sustainability strategy, which serves to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
From the explanatory part of the regulation to secure the energy supply via short-term measures
Justification for the measures in the regulation
All of these changes come into force on September 1, 2022 and are valid until February 28, 2023. The government provides a very detailed justification along with the regulation. The aim is to ensure security of supply for natural gas and to reduce the consumption of crude oil, gas, electricity and other energy sources. The prescribed consumption restrictions represent a proportionate and legitimate package of measures in the sense of a public good. There are no alternatives to this.
In this way, two to two and a half percent of energy consumption in Germany could be saved, says Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck, the measures. Not enough “for us to sit back” because the government’s savings target is set at 20 percent. But every small contribution would be important.
We are facing a national effort and what is needed is a strong interaction between the state, business and society, the federal government, states, municipalities, social partners, trade unions, trades and associations as well as civil society.
Robert Habeck , Federal Minister of Economics (Greens)
The second regulation for medium-term measures from October 1st
Exactly one month after the “Ordinance to secure the energy supply on short-term measures”, a second package for “medium-term effective measures” ( draft ) is to come into force. This regulation is currently being voted on by the Federal Council. Public, private and company buildings are again affected. What should people living in Germany and companies be prepared for from October 1st?
- a requirement for annual heating inspections for buildings with gas heating systems
- a requirement to replace uncontrolled, inefficient natural gas heating pumps
- Efficiency targets for companies with energy consumption of 10 gigawatt hours or more per year
This second regulation is also time-limited and should apply for a period of two years from October 1, 2022. In Austria, too, people are preparing for the fact that electricity, gas and fuel could become scarce in winter. profile only 17 percent are in favor of saving energy “being up to everyone.”
Sources:
https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Downloads/E/ensikumav.html (Ordinance to secure the energy supply via short-term measures)
https://www.hwk-rhein-main.de/adbimage/ 14323/asset-original//20220812-mittelfrischensigvo_ressortabstimm.pdf (Ordinance to secure the energy supply on medium-term effective measures, draft)
https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/energie-sparen-massnahme-september-100.html
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/themen/tipps-fuer-verbraucher/energiesparmassnahme-2078224
https://www.profil.at/oesterreich/grosse-mehrheit-fuer-regierungsmassnahme-zum-energiesparen/402132993
More on the topic: Gas alert: Saving energy is more important than ever
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