German Town First to Require Solar Panels on New Buildings

On June 23, 2008 in Uncategorized

From http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3431273,00.html

“Marburg, a German college town of about 80,000, has become the first in the country to make solar heating obligatory for newly built or renovated buildings. The green bill has some residents and politicians up in arms

 The law, passed on Friday, June 20 by a coalition of Social Democrats and Greens, has sparked a storm of criticism in the town of Marburg in the state of Hesse in western Germany.
“We are facing a green dictatorship but nobody dares to say anything,” said opposition politician Hermann Uchtmann.

Marburg’s Green Mayor Franz Kahle pointed out that installing the solar panels would cost around 5,000 euros ($7,800), but the price would be offset by energy savings over 15 years. The German news weekly Der Spiegel, however, pointed out that the mayor is a tenant, not a home owner, and would personally enjoy the energy savings but not incur the cost of the panels himself.

But regardless of who picks up the tab, some feel that the first step has to be made, even if it’s uncomfortable. Klaus Vajen, a solar energy expert at the University of Kassel said that “sometimes one has to twist consumers’ arm for their own good.”

Fines await those who don’t comply

Slated to take effect on Oct. 1, the bill stipulates that the solar panels have to measure one square meter (10 square feet) for every 20 square meters of the building’s surface area. Those who don’t comply with the new law will face fines starting at 1,000 euros — dramatically reduced from the initially proposed 15,000 euros.

Exceptions are to be made, however, for buildings that are principally heated from a district heating network, a combined heat and power generator, or a wood pellet oven

Though Marburg’s measures are the country’s most ambitious so far, it is not the first town to take legal steps toward saving energy and slashing carbon dioxide emissions. The right-wing government in the southern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg already requires new houses to meet 20 percent of their heating needs with renewable energy sources

In addition, the federal German cabinet recently approved a comprehensive climate plan aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 40 percent by the year 2020. The package includes higher standards for energy efficiency in new and renovated buildings as of 2009

From http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_2344648,00.html

Solar panels become mandatory
23/06/2008 07:26  - (SA)  

“Berlin - The central German college town of Marburg has become the first in the nation to require newly-built or renovated buildings to have solar panels installed.

The city says the new law was approved by the city council on Friday and will take effect on October 1.

The law requires any newly constructed buildings, as well as existing buildings that are expanded or altered, to include solar panels as part of the heating system.

The city says those violating the law will face fines starting at $1 500. The city is home to Marburg University and has 79 000 inhabitants.

The German government aims to slash the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions 40% from 1990 levels by 2020. “

From http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/23/solarpower.greenbuilding

German town forces homes to fix solar tiles
The Guardian
Monday June 23, 2008

Solar panels will soon grace the roofs of the quiet medieval town of Marburg under a controversial new law forcing owners of all new or renovated buildings in its limits to include solar panels, setting a national precedent.

A coalition of Social Democrats and Greens passed the ruling late on Friday to counter climate change and soaring energy prices. Anyone failing to comply will face a €1,000 (£790) fine.

The law stipulates that, from October, a 1 sq metre panel must be built for every 20 sq metres of surface area. It applies to new homes or existing buildings undergoing renovations to heating systems or roofs.

Conservatives said the law went too far: “This is an environmental dictatorship,” said the local Christian Democratic Union leader, Hermann Uchtmann. A local energy trade association said it was investigating legal action to reverse the ruling.

A few German towns have beefed up regulations to encourage energy conservation in new buildings. But Marburg, which is home to 80,000 people, has gone a step further by including the owners of older houses in the new legislation.

Installing the panels could cost homeowners up to €5,000, a figure largely offset by energy savings over 15 years, the town’s Green mayor, Franz Kahle, said.

Environmentalists predicted Marburg would become a trendsetter: “This town is a pioneer for renewable energy in Germany,” said Andree Böhling, an energy expert at Greenpeace in Hamburg.

Solar panels have been adopted at a comparatively rapid pace in Germany, despite its cloudy climes. This is largely because of a law that guarantees local power firms pay an above-market rate for 20 years for renewable energy fed into the national grid.

 

 

All I really have to say about this is: “What’s up, Germany?”

I have read of a few smaller places that have done this, one of which I believe was in Africa, but this German town is really stepping up to the plate on this one. Hopefully others will follow the trend.

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