Government to phase out oil and gas heating – Liechtenstein
VADUZ – The government is tackling the switch to environmentally friendly heating systems and is submitting a draft law for consultation. No oil or gas should be used in newly installed heating systems, and photovoltaics are also mandatory for new buildings.
Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni hinted at the government’s plan to ban oil and gas heating and make photovoltaic systems compulsory last week in the state parliament. Specifically, this should apply to new buildings and a replacement heating system.
draft law adopted
On Tuesday, the government issued a consultation report that provides for a corresponding amendment to the Building Act (BauG), the Energy Efficiency Act (EEG) and the Energy Performance Certificate Act (EnAG). These changes also serve to implement an EU guideline (Buildings Guideline II), which is implemented for Liechtenstein as a member of the EEA.
However, the government is going further and taking additional measures. The proposal for a law also takes into account the applications made by the state parliament in April for compulsory photovoltaics on residential and non-residential buildings. The consultation report is not online yet, but should be in the course of the day here to be found.
Away from fossil energy
The further measures are absolutely necessary in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and to strengthen independence from fossil fuels in the changed geopolitical situation. “This is intended to ensure the country’s security of supply and accelerate the implementation of the climate goals,” the Ministry of the Interior, Economy and Environment announced on Wednesday.
Accordingly, 35 percent of Liechtenstein CO2 emissions are attributable to the building sector, i.e. fossil heating. Around 3,400 oil heating systems and around 4,800 gas heating systems are currently still in operation in Liechtenstein. “With a service life of up to 30 years each, it is important not to install any new heating systems with fossil fuels,” writes the ministry. “The aim must be to switch completely to environmentally friendly heating systems such as heat pumps, pellets or district heating.”
The bill also adopts the model regulations of the cantons in the energy sector (MuKEn 2014) in order to eliminate the regulatory gap to St. Gallen and Graubünden in the area of building regulations.