The “heat transition” works: nevertheless it causes red heads Woman died after an accident with Duchess Sophie’s escort

In Germany, one term is causing quite a stir: heat transition. What is meant is the heating bill planned by Green Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck. It stipulates that from 2024, 65 percent of newly installed heating systems must be operated with renewable energy. In concrete terms, this means heat pumps instead of oil and gas systems.

However, these are cheaper to purchase, which is why many homeowners are rioting. And in the traffic light government, another palpable dispute has erupted between the Greens and the FDP. Habeck accuses his coalition partner of breaking his word, but his and the party’s once-high popularity ratings have plummeted amid heated controversy.

Robert Habeck is not innocent of that. Some of his laws were worded incomprehensibly, communication was poor, and he had to fire the secretary of state responsible for “nepotism”. (Almost) everyone agrees: there is no alternative to phasing out fossil fuel heating systems for climate neutrality.

Subsidies instead of prohibitions

Swiss politicians have also recognized this. The “heat transition” is a central part of the climate law, which will be voted on June 18. Where no bans are used. Instead, the replacement of oil, gas and electric heating systems with heat pumps should be subsidized by two billion Swiss francs over a ten-year period.

Nevertheless, the Association of Owners (HEV) fights against the law in an alliance with the SVP. The Zurich FDP member of the Council of States Ruedi Noser, a supporter of the climate law, has resigned from the HEV because of this campaign, singing wild songs. And the Independent Association of Western Switzerland decided to say yes.

Difficult position for director of HEV

“90 percent of all renovations are already carried out with renewable energy”, HEV director Markus Meier defended himself on Tuesday during a panel discussion in Pratteln (BL). It marked the end of the first national heat congress organized by aeesuisse, the umbrella organization for the renewable energy and energy efficiency economy.

Meier spoke of alleged “backlogs” in funding, materials and skilled labor, but he struggled in Congress. He took on stage against four supporters of the climate law (including Green Baselbit councilor Maya Graf), and the audience was also at least 90 percent behind the template.

«Heat transition concrete!»

Because the motto of the event spoke for itself: “Heat transition concrete!” Numerous speakers showed what would already be possible today, but which is still done far too little due to inadequate preconditions and mental “blockages”. The need for action would be obvious.

«The building stock in Switzerland is responsible for 45 percent of the energy requirement and 25 percent of the CO₂emissions,” says Markus Portmann, Vice President of aeeesuisse and Managing Director of e4plus AG. However, halving the energy requirement and complete decarbonisation are already possible today.

Produce more than consume

In the future, buildings will produce more energy than they consume, Portmann said. He estimated the corresponding potential at 70 terawatt hours (today it is only 3.6 TWh). But a political framework “that does not penalize sustainable investment” is needed. In fact, everything necessary for this already exists today.

This was evident from clear examples presented at the heating congress, including the “Parc Dinu-Lipatti”, a large 1950s apartment building in Chêne-Bourg near Geneva. It underwent a total renovation, with the living space increased by 30 percent. Nevertheless, energy consumption fell by 80 percent.

“Tunnel vision” on costs

The result: higher rental income with significantly lower heating costs. Another example is Fabrice Bär from the architectural firm Giuseppe Fent AG, who has “converted” a multi-family house from the 1970s of the “heat dissipation” type in Fahrwangen (AG) into an energy-plus building and has received important awards for this.

Based on another project, Bär estimated the additional costs for the renovation at five percent. On the other hand, there is an extra income of 17 percent, thanks to lower additional costs and the sale of the ‘surplus’ electricity. Actually a clear case, but the client often has a “tunnel vision” on the cost side, according to Bär.

Money in the country instead of for Putin

It’s the known problem. One sees only the direct costs (see Germany) (heat pumps are more expensive than fuel oil) and ignores the fact that the calculation will succeed in several respects in the long term. “Let’s keep the money in our own country instead of sending it to Putin,” controversial ETH climate researcher Reto Knutti said in his speech.

He showed once again how drastically climate change is progressing and is therefore attacked by climate deniers – who are also up to mischief in the current referendum campaign. In fact, no climate debate is needed to show the benefits of the heat transition. The financial aspects are sufficient: the heat transition pays off!

One wonders why this doesn’t make sense to homeowners. Apparently it wouldn’t work without funding. The vote in June was “a very important milestone”, emphasized Aeneas Wanner, Managing Director of Energie Zukunft Schweiz AG, at the heat congress. He called on the public to campaign for a yes to the climate law in their own area.