Social association criticizes Habeck’s heating plans as “Harakiri for the poor”
“This will hurt a lot of people in our country”
The installation of new gas and oil heating systems is to be banned from 2024. At least that’s what Economics Minister Habeck is planning. There is strong resistance to this. “To say overnight that there will be a ban is also a question of economics,” said FDP General Secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai.
According to plans by the Hamburg Senate, oil and gas heating will no longer be available from 2027. The resistance to the project is massive: energetic conversions would overwhelm many people financially, the social association vehemently warns.
Dhe Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD) Hamburg has criticized the planned ban on the installation of new oil and gas heating systems as “financial hara-kiri for the poor”. According to plans by the Senate, the installation of this heating system in Hamburg is to be banned from 2027, and every new heating system should be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energies, as the SoVD Hamburg announced on Monday. Funding is planned for this from 2024. “Only nobody knows how and who they relieve. This creates uncertainty that creates fear, ”said SoVD country head Klaus Wicher.
Energetic conversions would overwhelm those on lower incomes and the elderly. “Climate protection is necessary, but with social empathy,” said the SoVD head of state. He pointed out that the costs for heat pumps as an alternative to oil and gas as well as for subsequent thermal insulation are not affordable, especially for older people. “Hardly any bank gives you credit to insulate the roof or replace the heating. And if a mortgage can be taken out, grandma’s house will be in debt again,” criticized Wicher.
Families with children and people with a small pension would often have planned the house as old-age security in order to live rent-free in old age. Wicher: “Climate policy must be socially supported and must not be shifted onto the shoulders of older people, people with lower incomes and middle-income families.”
“Installation ban from 2024 unrealistic”
At the weekend, the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, once again criticized the nationwide plans of the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, to ban oil and gas heating. The time planning is not realistic and in the end does more harm than good, said the SPD politician of the “Bild am Sonntag”. “People are now ordering new gas and oil heating systems in a panic. And many problems have not been resolved: Are there enough installers? What about the people who cannot afford a heat pump?”
He expects Habeck to urgently meet with the construction and housing industry, heating engineers and the energy industry and check by when which goal can be achieved, Weil demanded. “We need longer and therefore more realistic transition periods when converting the heating system.” An installation ban from 2024 is unrealistic. Weil spoke out in favor of linking state aid for retrofitting heating systems to the level of income: “We should not subsidize the purchase of every heat pump with a fixed amount, but stagger the state aid depending on the level of income.”
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