This year's Replacement Weeks kicked off on 13 March at the world's leading trade fair ISH in Frankfurt am Main. More than 60 companies from eight federal states want to use the campaign to motivate homeowners to replace their old heating system with a modern appliance. Stadtwerke Gießen is also taking part in the campaign and is adding two further subsidy options.
Thousands of boiler rooms harbour enormous potential for climate protection. The majority of German heating systems are outdated and inefficient. "Because the energy transition cannot work without a heating transition, something has to change," says Michael Rösner, Head of Sales Private & Commercial Customers. This is why Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) is taking part in the nationwide Raustauschwochen programme. "With our participation in the Replacement Weeks and our two subsidy programmes, we want to provide an impetus to replace wasteful, outdated heating systems with efficient, modern appliances," explains Michael Rösner.
Up to 950 euros in addition to the state subsidy
Modernisers benefit in several ways during the Replacement Weeks. Until 31 October 2019, anyone who has a new natural gas condensing boiler installed will receive 200 euros. The only restriction: customers must choose a model from one of the eight well-known heating manufacturers participating in the campaign. "These low-emission heating systems save countless tonnes of CO2. At the same time, they reduce energy costs in the long term due to lower consumption. So it's a double win - for the environment and your wallet," calculates the SWG expert.
In addition, SWG has once again added two of its own subsidy programmes to the Replacement Weeks in 2019. Anyone who modernises their heating system and switches from another fuel to natural gas will receive a grant of 750 euros - in addition to the 200 euros already mentioned. All those who switch to district heating from SWG in future can also expect to receive 750 euros. However, the prerequisite for this is that the old heating system was not operated with natural gas. The SWG subsidy programmes run until 31 December 2019.
Successful for years
The Zukunft ERDGAS industry initiative and the Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate State Association of the Energy and Water Industry launched the Replacement Weeks programme back in 2017. The success of the campaign is impressive: In the first year in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate and in 2018 in Berlin, Brandenburg, Saarland, Lower Saxony, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein, more than 11,000 owners took advantage of the bonus and replaced their boilers as part of the Raustauschwochen. A real win for the environment. Over their average lifespan, these appliances save around 700,000 tonnes of CO2.
Interested parties can find all information on the subsidy programmes and their exact conditions at www.stadtwerke-giessen.de/umstellpraemie. In addition, Stadtwerke Gießen offers detailed, impartial advice on replacing heating systems and other subsidies from state funds at the SWG customer centre on the market square.
14.03.2019