Three Questions to Alexander Schuh, Vaillant

Vaillant is an internationally active company headquartered in Remscheid. Since its founding in 1874, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technology. Its product portfolio includes, among others, heat pumps, gas and condensing boilers, as well as ventilation systems. Today, the focus is on solutions that contribute to increasing energy efficiency and utilizing renewable energies.

1. The heating market is stagnating at a low level. In your view, what are the main reasons for this?
   First and foremost, it is the complex regulatory framework resulting from the interplay between the Building Energy Act and municipal heating planning. Both instruments pursue the right objectives but are overly complicated and difficult to understand in their current form. This lack of clarity makes planning difficult. For investment decisions in the heating sector, consumers, tradespeople, and heating equipment manufacturers need planning security through straightforward regulation.
   
2. The heating transition is strongly supported by government funding programs. How do you assess the current funding landscape?
   Government funding is an important factor in customer decision-making. It provides guidance and can accelerate the market ramp-up of new technologies. Current funding programs are well-equipped. However, given the ongoing budget discussions, it is unlikely that this level can be maintained in the future. Modernizing now is certainly a good option.
   
3. What options do you see for policymakers to bring new momentum to the heating market?
   Policymakers have several levers at their disposal to restore confidence for customers. A key measure would be to transpose the EPBD, the European directive on the overall energy performance of buildings, into national law as quickly as possible. This would provide both a clear roadmap for savings targets and greater planning certainty for all stakeholders. We need clearly defined, immediately applicable technology options without deadlines tied to municipal heating planning. Another important step would be to significantly simplify the current Building Energy Act.