The new Building Energy Act (GEG) - Overview of the most important changes

On November 1, 2020, the Building Energy Act (GEG) will come into force. The GEG brings together the Energy Conservation Act (EnEG), the Energy Conservation Ordinance (EnEV) and the Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG) and simplifies the requirements for energy efficiency and for the use of renewable energies in new construction and renovation. The law is intended to lead to a uniform set of regulations for planning, implementation and monitoring throughout Germany. The EnEG, the EnEV and the EEWärmeG will be repealed when the GEG comes into force.

The GEG regulates the requirements for the energy quality of buildings, the preparation and use of energy certificates and the use of renewable energies for heating and cooling. In particular, it also regulates requirements for public sector buildings, as these are intended to serve as a model.

In addition, the GEG fully implements the European requirements for the energy performance of buildings and defines the requirements for a low-energy building.

The current energy requirement level for new buildings and renovations is not tightened. The law follows the principle of economic efficiency and technology openness. This means that private and public developers can construct high-quality energy-efficient buildings both economically and with marketable technologies.

What does the GEG apply to?

Main innovations

• - Lowest energy buildings
• - Definition according to the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) is anchored in the GEG and deposited with specific values.
• - The energy requirements for lowest energy buildings correspond to those for new buildings, so KfW Efficiency House 55 or better.
• - Creditability of electricity from renewable energy:
• - Photovoltaic electricity, which is generated close to the building and primarily self-used, can be credited on the primary energy demand with up to 30 percent (without storage) and up to 45 percent (with storage).
• - Photovoltaic electricity as renewable energy can be credited in heat generation, if it is used to cover at least 15 percent of the heating or. Cooling demand in non-residential buildings contributes.
• - Conventional plant technology:
• - Update of retrofitting obligations for boilers, which may no longer be operated if installed before 1991 or after the expiry of 30 years.
• - Ban on oil heating after 2026 (with numerous exceptions).
• - Greenhouse gas emissions:
• - Uniform calculation procedure in the GEG.
• - Energy Performance Certificate (examples):
• - Mandatory on-site inspections or meaningful visual material.
• - Mandatory information of greenhouse gas emissions.
• - Extension of the issuance authority for energy certificates, ie no distinction between residential and non-residential buildings.
• - Mandatory energy advice by an energy consultant when buying a property.
• - Innovation clause:
• - Instead of the annual primary energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions can be limited if certain energy requirements are met.

For more information, interested parties can visit the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Home.

From when does the GEG apply?

In principle, the GEG applies to building projects with a building application or building notification from November 1, 2020. However, for all building projects for which the building application was submitted by October 31, 2020, the old law still applies - i.e. EnEV, EnEG and EEWärmeG.