TRADES OF THE FUTURE
Many skilled trades businesses are now key players when it comes to supporting their customers in the energy transition. VIVID spoke to two innovation leading companies from Düsseldorf about their day-to-day business dealing with climate protection, heat pumps and energy consulting.
Sebastian Fuchs founded his company in 2001 in his parents' garage on Bilker Benzenbergstraße as a "one-man show" – today, Sebastian Fuchs Bad und Heizung GmbH und Co KG. has around 30 employees. ‘We build bathrooms and do heating technology, and for the last twelve years we have been successfully focussing on heat pumps,’ he explains. Fuchs sees his trade as a key player when it comes to the energy transition. Accordingly, he had his own company certified as climate-neutral in 2020.
Sebastian Fuchs started his plumbing business in his parents' garage over 20 years ago. ’Now we are kind of climate protection heroes.’
Sebastian Fuchs offers his customers complete packages that include converting the heating system to a heat pump with its own power supply, a photovoltaic system, which he installs in collaboration with an electrical company. The service also includes in-depth advice, including the handling of subsidies. First of all, he arranges an appointment on site, calculates the heating load and draws up an energy forecast comparing the costs with those of a new gas heating system, for example. ‘A heat pump like this is of course an initial investment, but it is guaranteed to pay for itself after a certain amortisation period.’
His profession has become an innovative pioneer in the skilled trades when it comes to implementing climate protection and digitalisation. ‘Until a few years ago, the plumbing and sanitation sector was not very popular with young people. Now we're the heroes of climate protection ... I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle,’ laughs Sebastian Fuchs.
However, he is certain that his trade has a promising future and is not dependent on the current governing parties. ‘The coalition government has definitely initiated changes to the energy transition, but ultimately the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) was passed by the EU. So, a change of government doesn't really matter here.’ Raw materials such as gas and oil are no longer infinitely available and the energy transition is absolutely necessary. ‘I'm sure that the heat pump is the only economically viable answer, because it's simply a very good product - we've proven that hundreds of times in our company alone. Heat pumps are powered by electricity, the only material we can produce ourselves in Germany.’ Above all, they ensure independence from fossil resources or political crises and are therefore the best global solution for the necessary energy transition.
In order to implement these successfully, trade businesses and building contractors need the support of local authorities, the federal and state governments and their funding. Networks such as the "Düsseldorfer Klimapakt mit der Wirtschaft" or the ÖKOPROFIT cooperation project, which offers companies specialist workshops and individual advice, are important here. Private households receive funding for energy efficiency measures or the expansion of renewable energies through the "Klimafreundliches Wohnen und Arbeiten in Düsseldorf" programme.
Martin Haider, Managing Director of enschotec, Energie-und Schornsteintechnik GmbH, based on Friedenstraße, a licensed energy efficiency expert, knows how to apply for funding. The company was founded in 1995, however, since 2021 the master chimney sweep and his business partner Andreas Ehlert have been combining regular services with modern energy consulting. ‘Our services range from traditional chimney sweeping to the latest renewable energy technologies,’ he explains. The focus of his work is energy-efficient building planning.
His consultation usually starts with an analysis of the building: Martin Haider then draws up a plan for the energy-efficient conversion, supervises the professional implementation and applies for subsidies for his customers. ‘This is a very important topic, as many energy-efficient renovations are subsidised and you therefore have to work out the most sensible measures.’ How is the building insulated, are windows replaced, which heating system is installed? Do you stick with gas, oil or switch to a heat pump?
„I’m sure that the heat pump is the only economically viable answer“
enschotec also regularly utilises the services of the Chamber of Skilled Trades, "it is an important provider of further training and courses". He is also in contact with the city of Düsseldorf when it comes to its own funding programme "Klimafreundliches Wohnen und Arbeiten". When Martin Haider talks about his work, his enthusiasm for the energy transition is obvious. ‘Many chimney sweeps are also energy consultants, that's part of our job description. I'm intrigued by the complexity of the topic and its global importance.’ For him, the chimney sweep trade definitely has a bright future. ‘Young people are fascinated by the technology we utilise - using drones to inspect roofs or thermographic cameras to examine façades is exciting for many,’ says Martin Haider. However, he sees the poor predictability and fluctuating reliability of funding as a major challenge, which has often led to frustration for him in the past, but above all for his customers. In his opinion there is still room for improvement on the political front.
Chimney sweep Martin Haider discovered renewable energy already while studying for his master's certificate and is now a licensed energy efficiency expert.
Overall, however, Martin Haider believes that the energy transition is on the right track. ‘I've been in energy consulting since 2017. At that time, very little emphasis was placed on renewable energies and subsidies were ridiculed. We've since made a lot of progress here.’ •
Text: Katja Vaders
Pictures: Jochen Rolfes, Personal Archive