Energy transition in buildings requires social justice
In a new report, dena sheds light on how climate policy and social issues in the building sector are linked.
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© HoffotografenSebastian Boie
Senior Expert, Communications T: +49 30 66 777 - 168 sebastian.boie(at)dena.de
Berlin, Germany, 29 July 2024. The cost of housing, heating and refurbishment measures is an increasing burden on people living in Germany. This is highlighted in the report entitled ‘Social aspects of the building energy transition’, which was published as part of dena’s Gebäudeforum klimaneutral (Climate-neutral Building Forum) project in cooperation with Öko-Institut e.V. The number of households that cannot heat their home sufficiently has risen to 8.2 per cent last year, up from 3.3 per cent in 2021, according to the data analysed.
According to Corinna Enders, CEO, ‘the large-scale project will lack acceptance and support without a socially just organisation of the energy transition in the building sector and a fair distribution of costs and benefits. It is therefore important to consider social aspects from the outset. As dena, we want to create a sound factual basis that makes it easier for stakeholders to shape a socially just transformation that enjoys broad public support.’
Nearly three million households in Germany are burdened by their energy costs for heating
The new report from dena provides an overview of the latest data on rising housing and heating costs, the link between climate policy and social issues, possible options for action for individual households and socially balanced solutions. The report also provides figures on how many households in Germany are considered to be particularly affected by high heating costs.
Öko-Institut e.V. has developed a combined indicator to define who is considered disadvantaged in terms of energy costs for heating, which has established that this applies to around 3.1 million out of a total of around 43 million households in Germany. This includes all households that live in a flat with an energy consumption of more than 180 kWh/m2, spend a high proportion of their total expenditure on heating and are situated in the lower income bracket. A particularly surprising finding is that almost one in seven households in the middle-income bracket belongs to this group.
Housing costs place different burdens on households
Low-income households spend a significantly higher portion of their income on housing costs and heating energy compared to wealthier households according to the report. This burden affects both tenants and owners of flats and houses. The social challenges become particularly clear when the energy costs for heating are included in the analysis of other components of housing costs. For example, these costs for tenants are made up of heating costs and basic rent, while for owners there are also mortgage costs, maintenance and other running costs. Low-income tenants spend on average around 32 per cent of their income on housing costs compared to around 14 per cent for higher-income households. For owners with low incomes, the portion of housing costs is 18 per cent, while for higher-income households it is only 13 per cent.
Sustainable buildings are good for the climate and society
The costs of heating with gas and oil will rise steadily in the coming years. This is due to national fuel emissions trading and the EU Emissions Trading System II (ETS2), which will make fossil fuels more expensive from 2027. For this reason, refurbishing building shells and transitioning to heating with renewable energies are all the more worthwhile the sooner they are implemented. This is particularly attractive with government subsidies. People with low or no income receive support for their energy and housing costs from the government. The costs for accommodation, including heating costs, totalled €20.4 billion in 2023, of which approximately one-quarter may be attributable to energy costs for heating. Up to €1 billion could be invested elsewhere if this support is reduced by 20 per cent through efficiency improvements in buildings or other savings measures.
About Gebäudeforum klimaneutral (Climate-neutral Building Forum)
Gebäudeforum klimaneutral is the central hub by dena for climate-neutral construction and refurbishment in buildings and neighbourhoods. It is aimed at professionals in this field. The platform provides quality-assured information and tools, builds knowledge in the topic area of innovation and uses good examples to increase the visibility of the energy transition in the building sector. The dena team of experts in Gebäudeforum klimaneutral is supported by a continuously growing network of specialist partners comprising industry associations and representatives from all regions of Germany. The aim of Gebäudeforum klimaneutral is to multiply knowledge and in turn accelerate the progress of the energy transition in the building sector. Please visit www.gebaeudeforum.de for further information.
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