With this maneuver, Robert Habeck has done himself and his party a disservice.
The decision of the Green Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection to end state subsidies for energy-efficient buildings almost overnight leaves tens of thousands in the country feeling frustrated.
Construction projects that had been planned for a long time are suddenly in question, tightly calculated financing is bursting because the planned subsidies are no longer available.
But they should serve a good purpose: that not only industry and transport but also the building sector will become more climate-friendly.
What is particularly irritating is how the application freeze came about. It shouldn't have surprised anyone that the approaching end of a subsidy - in this case the grants for new buildings according to the KfW efficiency standard 55 - means that many people submit an application shortly before the deadline. At least the older ones should remember the expiry of the home ownership grant in 2005. At that time, too, the costs shot up, although the government had already significantly reduced the subsidy rates with wise foresight.
A gradual reduction would also have made sense in the case of new construction subsidies.
Because according to the plans of the traffic light coalition, in a few years what is still considered to be particularly energy-saving should be the legal minimum standard for new houses.
Whether you like this or not: It is a political decision to which everyone who wants to build can and must adapt.
It is correct that Habeck wants to focus the funding more on the renovation of old buildings.
The fact that the federal government can do better is indicated by the purchase premium for electric cars.
It will initially also continue to run for hybrid vehicles with an additional combustion engine, then be measured by the electric range and finally be eliminated completely at the end of 2025.
As with the promotion of energy-efficient new buildings, the following also applies here: There is no reason for all taxpayers to subsidize the purchase decisions of individuals, which there is no way around anyway.