The German coalition government, comprised of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), is poised to unveil a revised building modernization law in the spring, effectively dismantling the existing heating law framework. Details released in a coalition committee outcome document published Thursday indicate a strategic shift towards a more “technology-agnostic, flexible and straightforward” approach to building renovations.
This move signals a considerable backtracking from the previous, legally binding heating law which mandated heat pump adoption and faced considerable public opposition and political maneuvering. While the coalition had initially pledged to abolish the law through their agreement, the swiftness with which this revised framework is now being developed raises questions about the government’s ability to reconcile competing interests and deliver a truly cohesive policy.
The new law’s emphasis on technological openness allows for a broader range of solutions beyond heat pumps, which had become a lightning rod for criticism over perceived cost burdens and impracticality for many homeowners, particularly in older buildings. However, critics argue that this shift risks undermining crucial decarbonization efforts in the building sector – one of Germany’s largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
The delicate balance between affordability, practical implementation and climate goals is further complicated by the extended timeline for laying out the core principles of the new law. A working group including faction leaders, specialist politicians from both CDU and SPD, alongside Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katarina Reiche and Federal Minister for Housing, Verena Hubertz, will only finalize the key elements by the end of January 2026. This protracted process invites further political debate and potential amendments, inevitably delaying substantive progress on building modernization.
The government’s commitment to creating a “simple” legal framework is also under scrutiny. Experts warn that overly vague or adaptable regulations could leave the implementation open to interpretation and potentially hinder effective action on energy efficiency and emissions reduction. The unveiling of a cabinet draft “immediately” following the working group’s conclusions suggests an accelerated legislative process, but its ultimate success will depend on whether the revised law can achieve meaningful results without alienating large segments of the population and hindering Germany’s climate targets.
