Solar Power is Made Mandatory Marburg is a Forerunner in Germany
Marburg has become the first municipality in Germany to impose a requirement for solar construction throughout its area. In a heated discussion, the City Council on June 20th approved a Solar Code.
According to the code, any building owner who builds or renovates a building, fixes its roof or replaces its heating system, must install a certain number of solar collectors on the roof in the process. The primary purpose of these devices is to heat water for household use and to heat the rooms. Under certain circumstances, as an alternative, devices may be installed which produce electric power rather than heat or which use other renewable energy ressources. With this Code, the city is assuming a pioneering role in Germany. Citizens of the city of Marburg now have the duty to install solar-energy units on the roofs of their houses.
The opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) and Liberals (FDP) viewed the solar rules critically. They complained that the rules would force homeowners and home-builders to invest about €5000 in solar-thermal equipment whenever they wanted to build, reconstruct or rehabilitate a building. They thus see the Solar Code as an infringement upon the fundamental right of property. In addition, they demand that the panels be adapted to the historic urban city-scape of Marburg.
Deputy Mayor Dr. Franz Kahle of the Greens stressed the increasing price of oil. He emphasized how important a rapid change to a sustainable, clean energy policy is in view of climate change. The municipal administration has had the Solar Code revised in response to the more important criticisms. Homebuilders will thus be able to obtain exemptions from mandatory installation of solar facilities under certain conditions, for example.
With this Solar Code, the city of Marburg is breaking new ground. On the juridical level it still needs to be discussed. The Gießen Regional Authority, the responsible supervisory body for the Marburg municipal administration, has already announced that it intends to examine the rules carefully and critically.
The ruling coalition in Marburg sees its initiative as a necessary climate-protection measure, which promises to show rapid effects.
20 th of June 2008
