On the basis of the surveys by the chimney sweep trade, ZIV (Federal Association of the Chimney Sweep Trade - Central Guild Association) and BDH (Federation of German Heating Industry) presented the inventory figures for the central heat generators in 2017.
Increase in installed heat pumps
For the first time, the number of heat pumps installed in Germany exceeded 1 million. Even if heat pumps only accounted for 5% of the total of almost 21 million central heat generators, the disproportionate growth in 2017 with an increase of 17% in new heat pumps is pleasing.
“Heat pumps use a high proportion of renewable energies to generate heat in the building and thus, make a central and important contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable energies in the heating market,” said Manfred Greis, President of the BDH, adding “For three years in a row, sales of heat pumps are now growing disproportionately.”
High number of outdated inventory of gas boilers
The outdated inventory of gas boilers still far exceeds the inventory of efficient gas condensing boilers
At 7.5 million, the outdated inventory of gas boilers still far exceeds the inventory of efficient gas condensing boilers of 5.8 million. Even more serious is the still far too high discrepancy between outdated oil condensing boilers with 5 million units vs. only 0.7 million efficient oil condensing boilers.
“13.5 million of the approx. 21 million boilers in Germany are still out of date and do not correspond to the state of the art,” said Oswald Wilhelm, President of the ZIV, adding “The modernization market is stagnating. This means that the enormous CO2 reduction potential in existing buildings cannot be raised quickly enough.”
Energetic modernization of outdated heating systems
ZIV and BDH call on politicians to encourage the energetic modernization of outdated heating systems. “There is enough private capital for the energetic renovation, but this must be mobilized through appropriate state incentives,” said Andreas Lücke, General Manager of the BDH.
The phasing out of funding for inexpensive and highly efficient condensing technology, which some political circles are considering, would prove to be counterproductive. “Sending such signals blocks energy modernization. The ambitious climate protection goals of the federal government are thus becoming more and more distant,” adds Lücke.