EuroACE welcomes Germany's new initiatives
28/08/07

The German government is to make a "quantum leap" in energy efficiency, according to environment minister Sigmar Gabriel. Subsidies to install energy saving measures in buildings will increase to 2.6bn euros a year from 2008. This doubles the amount being spent currently.

The measures to be funded include the replacement of windows and heating systems, plus extra thicknesses of insulation. Also available will be improvement of the accuracy of consumption meters, and the phasing out of night storage heaters.

The Environment Ministry has issued a 49 page document focussed upon energy conservation, as a key part of a package designed to improve energy efficiency by 3% annually. Under European law, all that is required is an annual 1% improvement. These measures will make Germany "one of the most energy efficient regions in the world" claims economics minister Michael Glos.

Still under discussion is a new ecological tax for German industry. There would be complete exemptions from such a tax for companies that can demonstrate that they are exemplars in energy performance.

As well as seeking to reduce both the need for new power stations and for energy imports, the new package is intended to put Germany far ahead of other developed nations in reducing greenhouse gases. According to Gabriel, Berlin can now achieve a 40% reduction in carbon emissions between 1990 and 2020.