Designing energy-efficient buildings

Energy-efficiency in buildings is an important factor to ensure the success of the energy transition. This is why dena advocates favourable market conditions,

energy-efficient services and technologies, thus helping to make buildings fit for the future.

Statistics & facts

21
million buildings
in Germany
35 %
is the share of total energy consumption in Germany
accounted for by buildings
The 80 %
by the end
of 2050
73
billion euro is the amount spent by users
of residential and non-residential buildings in 2014 for heating, hot water, lighting and air conditioning.

No energy transition without a heating transition

Buildings

dena advocates energy-saving building and refurbishment of buildings, thus contributing to the success of the energy transition.

Buildings account for around 35 percent of total energy consumption in Germany. In total, Germans spend roughly 73 billion euros on heating rooms, hot water, lighting and air conditioning in residential and non-residential buildings. Residential buildings are responsible for the lion’s share of energy consumption: 39 percent of all energy consumed in Germany is used in detached and semi-detached homes, while apartment buildings contribute another 24 percent. The remaining 37 percent of total energy consumption is for non-residential buildings.

Buildings offer significant energy-saving potential.

There is significant potential for saving energy in the building sector. Around 63 percent of residential buildings were constructed before the First Thermal Insulation Ordinance was introduced in 1979. In consequence, older houses offer the greatest efficiency potential: they consume up to five times as much energy as new builds erected after 2001, with an average annual energy consumption of approximately 85 kilowatt hours per square metre (kWh/m²a).

Buildings must become more energy-efficient

As part of its ambitious energy efficiency targets, the Federal Government has decided to implement a 20 percent reduction in heating requirements by 2020. By 2050, primary energy requirements are to be reduced by 80%, which would make the portfolio of existing buildings largely climate neutral. For this to happen, it is imperative to double the rate of energy-efficient building refurbishments from currently one to at least two percent.

dena is driving the energy transition

dena is committed to ensuring that the energy transition progresses in the building sector as well. To do so, it initiates pilot projects that confirm the practical utility of energy efficiency measures and advocates improving the quality of planning, implementation and monitoring of the individual measures. dena also develops and manages communication platforms and strategies, as well as political initiatives and events. Acting on the interface between politics and industry, dena is actively engaged in the promotion of greater energy efficiency on the national and international stage.

More about the topic

Projects on the issue buildings

Federal-state dialogue event: Contracting

Energy contracting is an effective instrument for increasing energy efficiency in buildings. Contracting reduces energy costs, ensures low energy consumption and cuts CO2 emissions, This makes it an important instrument for the success of the energy transition. In order to tap into contracting potential all over Germany, dena operates the Centre of Expertise for Contracting for Buildings with support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi).

Overview

  • Project start: 2002
  • More than 30 successful energy efficiency contracting projects for federal real estate have been launched
  • They guarantee savings of around 15–60 percent of the building's energy costs (39 percent on average) and average CO2 reductions of 37 percent.
  • 2010: Founding of the Centre of Expertise for Contracting
  • Established group of experts from state energy agencies, state authorities, and state offices 

Part of the European Energy Network EnR

dena is represented as the German member in the European network of national energy agencies EnR (European Energy Network), and contributes experiences and expertise from Germany.

Overview

  • In 2016 dena held the presidency of EnR.
  • Network of 24 international energy agencies (as of 2018)
  • EnR was founded in 1992.


Check-in Energy Efficiency pilot project

dena's pilot project demonstrates the energy saving potential in the accommodation sector and ways to exploit this potential. Concrete refurbishment properties are to serve as examples of economically, ecologically and socially acceptable concepts for the "hostel of the future".

Overview

  • Project start: 2015
  • Number of participants: 30
  • Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
  • Partners: Viessmann, Daikin
  • Media partners: Hotel & Technik, Superior Hotel

 

 

German-Ukrainian Efficient House Pilot Project

A building refurbishment project in Ukraine organised by dena, Initiative Wohnungswirtschaft Osteuropa, the East European Housing Industry Initiative, and Kompetenzzentrum Großsiedlungen e.V., Centre of Expertise for Large Housing Estates, has met with enthusiastic response in Ukraine. The focus here is on 20 pilot projects for the energy-efficient refurbishment of apartment buildings in Ukraine.

Overview

  • Project start: 2015
  • 1,000 expressions of interest in participation were received within just a short period of time
  • 20 pilot projects launched in 2016
  • Collaboration of German and Ukrainian partners
  • Funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

Efficient House Pilot Project

The “Efficient House" pilot project by dena has focused on the energy-saving refurbishment of residential buildings since 2003, and of municipal buildings since 2007, with a special focus on schools, to create high standards of energy efficiency.

Overview

  • Project duration: 2003 - 2014
  • energy-saving refurbishment and assessment of over 400 residential and non-residential buildings in Germany
  • over 300,000 m2 of living space refurbished
  • CO2- annual reduction of over 3.7 million tonnes in residential buildings
  • average reduction in energy consumption of 80 percent during the pilot projects
  • 98 of the investors recommend energy-efficient refurbishment

Network and pilot project on non-residential buildings

The dena project, 'Network and pilot project, non-residential buildings,’ combines various initiatives to improve the data situation and increase the energy efficiency of non-residential buildings.

Overview

  • Project term: 2016 - 2018
  • Number of partners: 7
  • Supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi)
  • Number of pilot project participants: 19
  • Three completed studies on non-residential buildings

"The Building Transition" Refurbishment Campaign

“The Building Transition” is the first nationwide, cross-sectoral refurbishment campaign. The campaign provides owners of detached and semi-detached houses with detailed information on all aspects of energy-efficient modernisation, and helps them locate qualified energy experts.

Overview

  • Campaign start: 2014
  • Number of partners: 24
  • Number of sponsors: 2
  • Number of regional cooperation partners: 16
  • Regional information events for homeowners: approx. 330
  • media reports triggered by the campaign: approx. 1,600
  • social medial reach: roughly 800,000 persons

Industrialization of energy-efficient refurbishment of apartment buildings

In Germany, industrial approaches for building refurbishment are still mostly unknown. In order to develop the market for complete refurbishment from a single source, dena is launching the project “Serial refurbishment of apartment buildings”.

Overview

  • Project start: 2017
  • Project term: 3 years
  • Objective: Development of the German market for serial refurbishment
  • Partners: innovative property companies and smart construction companies as well as the Dutch non-profit organisation "Energiesprong"

Thermal Energy Resource Modeling and Optimization System THERMOS

THERMOS is providing new methods and instruments with which to make the supply of heat quicker, more efficient and more economical.

Overview

  • Promoting the development of low-emission heating and cooling networks
  • 15 European partners from eight countries
  • Term: October 2016 to September 2019

Ukraine: Municipal heating transition

Ukrainian cities are about to embark on a municipal heating transition, which can be made more sustainable and efficient with the help of support from and dialogue with German experts and companies. New business models and concepts are designed to help improve the municipal heating transition, and promote sustainable development and a switch to renewable energy sources in Ukrainian cities.

Overview

  • Start of the project: 2019
  • Duration of the project: August to December 2019
  • Objective of the project: Improvement and modernisation of municipal heat supply in Ukraine.