PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

In this paper we argue that the new German Building Energy Act is ineffective, counterproductive and harms future generations. First, the emissions of the buildings sector are currently regulated by the national emission trading system. Any additional measure does not have an ecological effect, but, only causes additional costs. Hence, the new German Building Energy Act is ineffective, not necessary and not appropriate. Second, it does not take into account CO2 emissions from wood-burning that is expected to increase in the future and, consequently, is counter-productive and discriminatory. Further, it fails to account for the respirable dust load resulting from the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting health hazards. Third, the new German Building Energy Act together with other policy measures by the government costs trillions of euros that do not raise aggregate production possibilities. This goes at the cost of future generations who will experience future limitations of their freedom.