Great interest in municipal heat planning
Around 70 residents of Hof came to the forum to find out about the current status of planning, the target scenario and funding opportunities for energy-efficient renovations and heating replacements.
Mayor Eva Döhla: "We set off early. Just over a year ago, Hof was one of the first municipalities in Bavaria to actively start this process. Because we started soon, the federal government is fully supporting us in financing the planning. It was important for us to develop a viable instrument at an early stage, with which we can gradually make our heat supply climate-friendly and sustainable."
After a technical presentation, many participants took the opportunity to ask specific questions at themed tables, raise their concerns and talk directly to experts from the planning office, energy consultants from the consumer advice center, representatives of Stadtwerke Hof and employees of the city administration.
There are currently two key questions in the public eye
1. Does the municipal heating plan trigger an obligation for building owners?
No, a resolution on the municipal heating plan has no legally binding effect for owners. The heating plan is an informal, strategic planning instrument. It provides an overview of how the heating transition in Hof could be shaped in the long term. Only if a further, separate decision were to be taken to designate an area, in which, for example, a city district would be defined as an "area for the construction or expansion of a heating network", could earlier obligations under the Building Energy Act (GEG) arise. Such decisions are made separately and made public.
2. Is my building in the area of a possible heating network?
This question cannot be answered conclusively at present. The heating plan shows areas that appear suitable in principle for a central heating supply on the basis of building density, type of use, building age and energy requirements. Whether heating networks are actually implemented here depends on other factors such as feasibility, cost-effectiveness and the willingness of owners to connect. The city will soon be providing a zoomable map on its website, which will show initial assessments for individual streets.
Citizen participation period extended until July 6
Since the target scenario was published on May 27, the city administration has received numerous inquiries and suggestions. In order to make room for this intensive exchange, the decision was made not to submit the municipal heating plan to the city council for approval until the end of July - instead of June 30 as originally planned. The residents of Hof have until July 6 to actively contribute to the municipal heating plan.
Current information on the municipal heating plan and participation can be found at https://www.hof.de/bauen-wirtschaft/klimaschutz/kommunale-waermeplanung.