At the end of last year, the German Federal Government adopted a climate protection programme to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Germany by up to 70m/tonnes by the year 2005. Between 5-7m/tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions could be prevented through the renovation of old buildings alone. This is important for the window construction industry since just under 60% of all windows in Germany are fitted in old buildings. Over the next 3 years the government will provide additional budget funds to the tune of DM1.2bn for a climate protection programme for existing buildings. In the year 2003 a decision will be taken regarding the continuation of the loan programme when the 2004 budget is drawn up. The government is intending to extend the current carbon dioxide reduction programme of the "Reconstruction Load Construction" in Frankfurt by at least 5 years.
