Residential and non-residential buildings account for the largest percentage of end energy requirements EU-wide — 40%. Hence, it is necessary to focus on the energy efficiency of these buildings if the energy transition is to succeed. For the target group of homeowners, an independent long-term communications approach is needed which is separate from the issue of the energy transition as a whole. Only by doing so can the required momentum develop which will allow the process of improving efficiency in buildings to take off. After all, what we have here is hundreds of thousands of individual decision-makers who need to be comprehensively informed.
2003 was the year of inception of dena's large-scale efficiency offensive under the title "zukunft haus" ("future house") and the motto "Saving energy, increasing value". A platform on the internet presents all sides of this diverse issue in a manner that is always easy-to-understand for the masses, and quickly became the central communications platform for the topic of energy-efficient construction and refurbishment: Over the years, thousands of homeowners and experts, hundreds of journalists, and numerous industry representatives, were informed on building sector topics, ranging from construction technology to finance.
The website www.zukunft-haus.info was listed as one of the 100 most important online addresses by the German newspaper BILD. The "zukunft haus" ("future house") congress was a successful event format, and became the predecessor for the dena Energy Efficiency Congress. By then, the range of specialist and consumer publications was almost equal to that of a professional publishing house, and its public relations had a nine-figure reach. The platform is aimed both at clients and companies as well as refurbishment experts such as architects and energy consultants, but also politicians. It contains not only tips on building, refurbishment, and saving energy, but also studies and information on statutory regulations.
Useful tools such as the energy efficiency expert list, a profitability calculator, or a search feature for funding close the gap between theory and practice.
What was originally conceived of as a portal for informing and motivating homeowners has now developed into a mainstay for stakeholders from the economy, politicians, and for the press as well: Under the new project name "Bau-Dialoge" (Construction Dialogues) since 2015, dena initiates important strategic stakeholder dialogues and consolidates the necessary expert policy discussions with the industry on increasing energy efficiency in the building sector.
All of them use the platform to take part in the dialogue or to be inspired by new trends and ideas on the topic of energy efficiency in the building sector. The initiative's current role of bringing together involved parties from various sectors is not only limited to the internet: Important expert events are also organised and held, such as the dena Energy Efficiency Congress, dialogues between federal and state governments, and events at the EU level.
Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy from 2003 to 2014.