|
For the last few years, the German red-green coalition government has heavily subsidized the use of insulating materials. In order to reach the goals of the Kyoto protocol, Federal Minister Trittin of the Green Party has advocated "energetic reconstructions of older buildings" as well as "energy passports" for such edifices that are renovated according to his policy.
However, according to experts at the Hamburg Architectural Center, the "extreme insulation" of buildings with styroporic materials results in less than 10 percent of the decrease in energy use Trittin had promised.
The wrapping of southern walls is even considered "technically wrong" as solar warming of brick walls would be lost.
Additionally, any "glued external skin" applied to the building would lead to accelerated growth of lichen and algae. These would make the buildings look "unattractive and neglected".
According to the study, these insulations would result in "coarse interference" to building facades, so they recommend subsidizing them "only in exceptional cases."
All too often the policies of a "Green" party can lead to wasted tax money and run contrary to both science and common sense.
|
