Retrofitting or decommissioning: What lies ahead for 65,000 stove owners in Saxony

From Olivia Daume

From December 31, 2024, heating with certain stove models will no longer be possible. The reason for this is the first Federal Immission Control Ordinance, which introduces stricter emission limits for particulate matter and carbon monoxide in fireplaces.

According to the Federal Association of Chimney Sweeps, around 65,000 appliances in Saxony are affected by the regulation. According to estimates by the German Industry Association for Household, Heating and Kitchen Technology, around four million appliances are affected throughout Germany.

Stoves: retrofit or buy new?

From the end of 2024, the new limit values for particulate matter will be a maximum of 0.15 grams per cubic meter and for carbon monoxide a maximum of four grams per cubic meter. Stoves that were put into operation between January 1, 1995 and March 21, 2010 and cannot comply with the new limits must therefore be retrofitted or shut down. The aim: more environmentally friendly heating.

For many, the question now is: retrofit or buy a new one? While fine dust filters can be a cost-effective solution in the short term (on average between 300 and 2,000 euros), modern stoves offer long-term benefits in terms of efficiency and reduction of emissions. According to the Haus-, Wohnungs- und Grundeigentümer-Verein, the purchase costs for a new, more environmentally friendly stove are between 500 and over 2,000 euros, depending on the equipment and functions.

What are the exceptions?

There is no state funding for replacing or converting, but there is for switching to environmentally friendly heating systems such as water-bearing pellet stoves or biomass stoves. Grants can cover up to 35 percent of the investment costs, for example from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control. Low-interest loans for energy-efficient renovations are also available from the state development bank KfW.

In order to continue operating the stove after 2024, proof of compliance with the emission limits is required. Alternatives to traditional stoves include pellet stoves, electric fires, gas fires and ethanol fires. These offer an environmentally friendly heat source with a lower negative impact on air quality.

But there are exceptions: Historic stoves built before 1950 are protected, as are some handcrafted tiled stoves. Open fireplaces that are rarely used and kitchen stoves with a heat output of less than 15 kW are also covered by the exemption. If a wood-burning stove serves as the sole source of heating, an exemption can also be granted here.