Buildings - the hub of the energy transition

Buildings are an important key to achieving climate goals: they currently consume around 35 percent of Germany's total final energy and are responsible for almost one third of the country's energy-related CO2 emissions. At the same time, they must become an elementary part of the decentralised energy system of the future in the short term, as they can be not only consumers but also producers. Only through an active building turnaround can the goal of a climate-neutral building stock be achieved. And in the view of the ZVEI, this building turnaround must begin now.

Modern technologies and digital building infrastructure already enable greater energy efficiency and lower CO2 emissions in the building sector. However, for a real building turnaround, the modernisation and renovation rate - depending on the technology - must be increased to up to six percent per year. To achieve this, the right political course must be set. For example, through the EPBD and its national implementation with the Building Energy Act (GEG), which must be ambitiously amended.

In addition to renovation, it is particularly important to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation and building automation solutions. The use of energy-efficient technical building equipment (TGA), in turn, can make a decisive contribution to achieving the climate neutrality targeted by 2045. Here, the building sector faces another challenge, because the electrical building infrastructure in Germany is ready for a museum. The ZVEI is therefore calling for buildings to be made electro-technically fit - not least so that they become energy, transport and building transition capable.

A whole range of building-relevant sectors are organised in the ZVEI: Electrical installation, lighting, security, electrical building heating and storage technology, energy technology, electrical household appliances, consumer electronics, media networks and communication infrastructure as well as e-charging of vehicles come together here to jointly realise the electrification and digitalisation of the building sector. There is a lot to do.

02.02.2022

Buildings 2022: Creating future-oriented conditions

Even in 2021, the buildings sector did not achieve the climate targets set. In 2020, it was the fourth largest emitter in Germany with 120 million tonnes of CO2. The need for renovation of the building stock is therefore enormous - but the potential is just as great. Only a strong focus on electrification and digitalisation in buildings will make them the hub of the energy transition. The course for a successful building transformation and thus the achievement of the climate targets by 2030 and 2045 will be set this year.

22.06.2021

Making EU building stock energy efficient with technologies

ZVEI is in favour of the EU Commission's intention to significantly increase the renovation rate of buildings in Europe. This not only has a positive effect on climate targets, but also gives the entire European population access to buildings with low energy consumption. Increasing the renovation rate is thus also an important step towards increasing energy availability. Technologies that increase the energy efficiency of buildings and improve occupant comfort already exist. The use of energy-efficient technical building equipment (TGA) can make a decisive contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 levels.

Climate-neutral society only works with standardisation

Achieving the transformation to a climate-neutral and sustainable society and economy, while maintaining prosperity, needs the responsible and consistent use of technology and innovation, as well as comprehensive electrification and digitalisation. This requires norms and standards.