In the second attempt, the Bundestag passed a law intended to increase energy efficiency. For example, it involves concrete savings targets for the federal and state governments as well as efficiency standards for data centers.
Companies with high energy consumption should introduce energy or environmental management systems and create concrete plans to implement measures for greater energy efficiency. A limit on individual consumption by companies or private households should not be introduced.
The law, which still has to pass the Bundesrat, primarily implements EU requirements. It was actually supposed to be decided in July, shortly before the summer break. However, the vote was canceled because there were no longer enough representatives in the plenary hall. The law was passed on Thursday.
Goal: Significantly less energy consumption in Germany
Accordingly, Germany’s final energy consumption should be reduced by at least 26.5 percent by 2030 compared to 2008. For the period after 2030, the federal government aims to reduce Germany’s final energy consumption by 45 percent by 2045 compared to 2008.
The Green MP Katrin Uhlig spoke of a clear framework for energy efficiency. The coalition creates planning security for companies. The SPD politician Robin Mesarosch said that Germany is still far below its potential when it comes to energy efficiency. Too many companies are still shying away from investing. The CDU MP Thomas Gebhart, on the other hand, spoke of a bureaucratic mess and detailed regulations. He doesn’t know of any entrepreneur who would voluntarily waste energy.
The German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency spoke of the law as an important and long overdue step. With energy savings targets by 2030, the traffic lights only operate in sight. Ingbert Liebing, general manager of the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU), said that the association was primarily committed to practical and concrete regulations as well as flexible requirements. The VKU therefore welcomes the fact that originally planned interim targets for 2040 have been canceled.
