"Europe needs a competition among communities to push for the best concepts for a broad introduction of solar energy in housing construction and urban development."
(Sonne Wind & Waerme, April 2004)

Solar Thermal Obligations (STO) are legal provisions obligating owners of buildings to install a solar thermal system, mainly for new buildings or for buildings undergoing major renovation. They are in most cases part of national or regional energy laws and often implemented by means of the local building codes at municipal level. A growing number of municipalities, regions and countries (e.g. Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Baden Wuerttemberg region in Germany and some Austrian regions) are already making use of solar thermal obligations.

"Europe needs a competition among communities to push for the best concepts for a broad introduction of solar energy in housing construction and urban development."
(Sonne Wind & Waerme, April 2004)

Solar Thermal Obligations (STO) are legal provisions obligating owners of buildings to install a solar thermal system, mainly for new buildings or for buildings undergoing major renovation. They are in most cases part of national or regional energy laws and often implemented by means of the local building codes at municipal level. A growing number of municipalities, regions and countries (e.g. Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Baden Wuerttemberg region in Germany and some Austrian regions) are already making use of solar thermal obligations.