By Kåre Press-Kristensen, senior advisor air quality & climate, and Julie Bangsgaard Abrahams, energy advisor, Green Transition Denmark. The article is, among other things, published in Århus Stifttidende and Nordjyske Stifttidende.

The winter's high heating bills have clearly shown that there is an urgent need to energy-renovate large parts of the Danish housing stock. The cheapest and most environmentally friendly heat is the one we don't use. At the same time, energy renovation increases the home's value and comfort.

For this, pollution-free heat sources are needed. Environmentally and climate-damaging oil boilers, gas boilers and wood burning must be phased out in favor of district heating in the cities and individual heat pumps outside the cities. District heating must primarily be based on heat pumps, geothermal energy, industrial surplus heat, etc., so that we minimize burning, which damages both the environment and the climate.

Climate-friendly heating planning is therefore urgent in municipalities that continue to burn oil, gas and wood. Households with individual heating with oil, gas and wood should already now switch to district heating in the cities (if possible) and individual heat pumps outside the cities, so that they become part of the green transition. Heat pumps and central/decentralized heat storage are the crank in the future's heat supply. Here we get 2/3 of the energy gifting. And they can run on clean electricity from wind turbines and solar cells balanced with Norwegian/Swedish hydropower.

The Danish Energy Agency has equal subsidy schemes for energy savings and heat pumps. Hurry up to apply so you are ready for next winter.