The new Building Energy Act (GEG) – “Act on Energy Saving and the Use of Renewable Energies for Heating and Cooling in Buildings” came into force on November 1, 2020 and merged the previous laws and ordinances (EnEG, EnEV and EEWärmeG).
The GEG applies to all buildings that are heated or air-conditioned and sets energy requirements for apartment buildings, detached houses and semi-detached houses. Some changes have been added for new buildings, and some new specifications for energy-efficient refurbishments are also prescribed for old buildings.
Significance of the Building Energy Act – energy saving and more climate-friendly living
Against the backdrop of rising energy costs, exacerbated by the situation in the Ukraine war, the obligations to save energy are very topical. The GEG regulates specifications for the thermal standard of buildings and heating technology. In addition to space heating and cooling, it covers hot water generation, electricity and the operation of pumps for boilers, regulators and ventilation systems. It also relates to air exchange, the minimization of thermal bridges and air conditioning technology as well as measures against heat. These stipulations are intended to minimize energy consumption and create more comfortable living conditions. It is likely that the current requirements for renovations and the obligations for new builds will become stricter. This means that further increases in costs are to be expected for major measures on buildings. For example, there is already a ban on the operation of new oil heating systems installed from 2026.
GEG – Requirements for new construction
The Building Energy Act (GEG) largely contains regulations for new buildings with the aim of minimizing energy requirements for water heating and heating. There are two different methods for this: determining the“primary energy” that the new building may consume and the other by calculating the“amount of permissible greenhouse gases (CO2)” that the new building may consume. Only one of these obligations must be fulfilled. In addition, there are certain requirements for the use of renewable energies: this can optionally be achieved through the use of solar thermal energy, combined heat and power plants, heat pumps, district heating, waste heat or via biogas, biomethane or biogenic liquid gas in a condensing boiler . In the new GEG, this can also include electricity generated close to the building from renewable energies.
Building Energy Act GEG – requirements for old buildings
Following the introduction of the GEG, less stringent rules apply to existing properties than to new buildings. In general, there is an obligation to renovate and retrofit old buildings through conversion or renovation, and in the event of a change of ownership through house purchase, inheritance or donation.
For apartment buildings , there are certain replacement and retrofitting obligations that must be fulfilled by a certain date. However, owners of detached and semi-detached houses are exempt if they have lived there since February 2002. When buying a detached or semi-detached house, owners have two years to meet the GEG requirements. In the case of modernizations, there are conditional“requirements” that must be met. Whether regulations are complied with, as regulated by the GEG, can be verified by means of a balance sheet of the entire building or a component certificate.
For old buildings, the obligations relate to renovations, extensions and loft conversions. In the case of extensions and additions, there are only requirements for structural thermal insulation. There are replacement obligations for oil and coal heating systems, which can continue to be operated under certain exceptions . For example, certain boilers, oil and gas boilers that are more than 30 years old and of a standard size (4-400 kW heat output) must be replaced. Heating and hot water pipes must be insulated in unheated rooms.
Mandatory energy certificate
In order to be able to roughly assess potential energy costs, the energy quality of a house and also the living comfort of a house or apartment, the GEG stipulates the obligation to issue an energy performance certificate. This can be issued as a consumption certificate or as a demand certificate. It must be presented to the prospective tenant before the viewing appointment in the event of a rental or sale. It generally applies to all heated or cooled buildings that are newly sold or rented. In addition to some changes made by the GEG with regard to the energy performance certificate, CO2 emissions must now also be listed in the energy performance certificate.
GSA measuring devices for sampling pollutants in indoor and outdoor air
After buying a new house, an apartment or renting a new property, the question often arises as to the extent to which possible pollutants are harmful to health. Depending on the materials used and the year of construction of the building, pollutants can be precisely determined by taking samples with GSA measuring devices for further pollutant analysis.
The GSA Messgerätebau online store stocks a range of GSA measuring devices for stationary or mobile use. The GSA measuring devices comparison provides an initial guide to the right GSA measuring device for sampling gases, smoke, particle measurements of dust fractions such as A-dust or E-dust as well as fiber measurements such as asbestos fibers. The GSA measuring devices SG12 can sample low concentrations of asbestos fibers in indoor air. It is suitable for sampling inorganic fibrous particles in accordance with VDI 3492 and ISO 14966 as well as asbestos or KMF. Measurements of the various dust fractions such as A-dust or E-dust can also be carried out with this device.
Sources:
Image source: 123rf.com © jpchret, image no. 142629042
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