Planning the heating system
You should already decide in favour of a specific heating system during the planning phase of the house. The space requirements of the various systems depend on the fuel or energy source you want to use for heating. Examples include natural gas, biogas, liquid gas, heating oil, coal, wood, wood pellets, solar energy (solar thermal energy) or a heat pump, the electricity for which is ideally generated by a photovoltaic system on your own roof.
With a heating oil system in particular, building owners must bear in mind that heating oil is a water-polluting substance. Special regulations therefore apply to protect water bodies. The oil tank system may only be installed by a specialist company if the storage volume exceeds 10,000 litres. In certain cases, inspections must be carried out by experts before commissioning. This applies to systems
- with a storage volume of more than 1,000 litres of heating oil and
- for all underground storage tanks.
Requirements for the heating system
Legal regulations have been passed to increase the proportion of renewable energies in the heating supply.
The Building Energy Act (GEG) sets requirements for the energy quality of new buildings. New buildings may not exceed a certain value for the annual primary energy requirement and the heat loss of the building envelope. The annual primary energy demand indicates how much energy is required for heating, ventilation, cooling and hot water production over the course of a year.
In addition, the Building Energy Act (GEG) is aimed at energy-efficient system technology for heating, ventilation, cooling and hot water preparation when this is installed in a building for the first time or replaced in existing buildings.
the new requirements of the Federal Building Energy Act (GEG) for renewable heating have been in force since 1 January 2024. In Baden-Württemberg, the state's Renewable Heat Act (EWärmeG) continues to apply to buildings that were already constructed on 1 January 2009. This raises questions: Which heating systems will be permitted in new buildings in future and which in existing buildings? What transitional periods does the Building Energy Act provide for? What is the relationship between the Building Energy Act (GEG) and the Renewable Heat Act (EWärmeG)?
We have compiled answers to important questions about heating for you here: Questions and answers.
On our website you will find further working aids and information sheets specifically on the requirements of the EWärmeG.
Detailed information
- Information on the EWärmeG Baden-Württemberg can be found on the homepage of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment
- Information on the GEG of the federal government can be found on the homepage of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment
- For more information on the regulations to be complied with and experts working in the region, please contact the lower building authority.
- Information on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating systems and funding opportunities can be obtained from the"Zukunft Altbau" information programme and from the regional energy advice agencies or the BW consumer advice centre.
- Further information can be found in the following brochures:
Legal basis
Gesetz zur Einsparung von Energie und zur Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien zur Wärme- und Kälteerzeugung in Gebäuden (Gebäudeenergiegesetz - GEG)
Gesetz zur Nutzung erneuerbarer Wärmeenergie in Baden-Württemberg (Erneuerbare-Wärme-Gesetz - EWärmeG)
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Umweltministerium Baden-Württemberg, 16.10.2024