Stirring from slumber: The potential of dormant energy resources should be explored
In Germany, the building sector accounts for around 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the most crucial areas for achieving climate protection goals, alongside traffic and industry. Environmental organizations have long emphasized the importance of this sector, with tenants' councils playing a significant role in advocating for change.
While tenants' councils are legally provided for only in municipal, state-owned housing companies, they serve as a powerful voice for tenants, as noted by Bartels. For instance, a successful tenants' council in Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has been advocating for the re-municipalization of some blocks sold to the housing company Deutsche Wohnen since 1994.
Classic energy-saving measures in buildings include renewing windows, replacing heating systems, or insulating outdoor areas. However, the building sector presents opportunities for energy savings and climate protection that are rarely utilized due to the landlord-tenant dilemma. This problem arises when owners can pass on the costs of renovations to tenants, disincentivizing energy savings.
To tackle this issue, the German federal government has announced measures to ensure that energy savings also benefit tenants. These include regulations or incentives that require or encourage landlords to pass on cost savings from energy-efficient renovations to tenants, thus sharing the advantages of energy savings more equitably.
One such solution is the third-party model, which the German Tenants' Association has been advocating for years. In this model, landlords, tenants, and the state share the costs of renovations. Landlords, especially smaller private ones, are open to discussion and see the advantage of climate-friendly renovations, according to Breer.
Another promising solution is tenant electricity, where landlords generate electricity using solar panels, providing tenants with cheaper energy if the tariff is at least 10% cheaper than the basic tariff. This model, combined with the solar standard that gradually equips every building with solar panels, and the Community Building Supply, starting in 2024, where property owners and residents can join together for electricity production, are all beneficial for tenants, landlords, and the climate, according to a study.
Despite these promising solutions, less than one percent of apartments are energetically renovated each year in Germany. To reach climate goals by 2045, the renovation rate in the building sector needs to double. The Berlin Tenants' Association aptly states, "The individual often reaches the end quickly, but as a community, many things can indeed work."
The electricity tax law, recently decided by the federal government, primarily provides relief for industry and agriculture, facing criticism. However, the federal government plans to continue funding for building renovation and heating in the future, but details are not yet available.
In conclusion, addressing the landlord-tenant dilemma is crucial for achieving Germany's climate protection goals. By implementing solutions like the third-party model and tenant electricity, and by ensuring that energy savings benefit tenants, Germany can make significant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector.
