Trade associations contest Baden-Wuerttemberg tougher power requirements - report

Aug 15, 2013 - Trade associations in Baden-Wuerttemberg are opposing plans of the regional government to expand the share of renewables in new heating installation because it would raise building renovation costs, a newspaper reported.

The more prominent role of renewables in the heating generation is part of tougher energy conservation guidelines, daily Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on Tuesday.

The doubling of costs would further slow Baden-Wuerttemberg's renovation pace, Klaus Picard, head lobbyist of Germany's oil industry association MWW, told the newspaper.

Baden-Wuerttemberg, unlike most federal states, introduced strict requirements for the installation of new heating systems in old buildings in 2010. The new installations should derive at least 10% of their power from renewable sources, and the new plans foresee at least 15%. The new concept will cover not only private homes, but also non-residential buildings.

The local authorities claim the measures would reduce costs, while trade associations maintain that many clients, scared off by higher expenses, are scrapping plans to buy new heating installations.

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