Heat from renewable energy sources.

Sharp hikes in heating oil and natural gas prices have shown that neither are these fuels inexpensive nor will supplies be available forever. This makes efficient energy management a central concern and the course for the future must be set today. The EU's heads of state and government have already set themselves ambitious climate protection and energy efficiency targets and have so raised the issue of how these targets will be achieved nationally.

The German federal government's integrated energy and climate programme is intended to increase the proportion of renewable energy used for heating buildings: from a good 8 percent today to 14 percent by 2020. Over the last year, some EUR 400 million of subsidies were made available for the market incentive programme. Support is continuing in 2010 too. In addition, Germany's Renewable Energy Heating Law made the use of renewable energy sources in new buildings mandatory from 1 January 2009.

If the use of renewable energy sources for heating is to be economically viable while simultaneously being beneficial in climate protection terms, certain conditions must be met. If it is done properly, anyone carrying out refurbishment today can cut energy requirements by more than 80 percent and so face future energy price rises with equanimity. In addition to statutory requirements such as Germany's energy saving regulations and attractive subsidy programmes, it is essential to take a strategic approach to communications.

The goal of dena's "Heat from renewable energy sources" project is therefore to provide relevant stakeholders such as home owners, landlords, energy advisers and other specialists with comprehensive information about the use renewable energy sources in the building sector. Technical activities are being accompanied by intensive public relations work.

Project Website

www.zukunft-haus.info/erneuerbare