Energy efficiency

Thermal insulation glazing plays a decisive role in the energy efficiency of buildings. They prevent heat from escaping through window surfaces to the outside. This can significantly reduce heating costs. Particularly in the cold season, when heating energy can be lost through old windows, replacing them with modern double or triple glazing offers an opportunity to...

In order to replace conventional gas and oil heating systems in apartment buildings, employees at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE are developing new heat pump systems using propane (R290). These developments aim to implement more sustainable and efficient heating solutions that meet the diverse requirements of the German housing stock. In this...

The Association of Private Building Owners (VPB) recommends that property owners have their heating system serviced in good time before the cold season begins. According to the Building Energy Act, regular maintenance is mandatory. However, how often this must be carried out remains undefined. Annual heating maintenance is nevertheless advisable. This is because it is not only important for the energy efficiency of the system, but...

With rising electricity prices, living together in an apartment is an effective way to reduce energy costs. Whether with a partner, a colleague or a friend, sharing a household can bring savings on many cost items, including electricity consumption. Compared to single-person households in particular, a two-person household can save an average of...

Since 2023, it has been mandatory for landlords to contribute to the CO2 costs of heating and hot water for their rented properties. This legal innovation aims to encourage owners to invest in energy-saving measures. The Carbon Dioxide Cost Allocation Act (CO2KostAufG) takes into account the fact that the characteristics of the heating systems and the...

Digitalization will result in 10 to 20 percent less energy consumption in the future than in 2020, according to a calculation model by researchers at the Paul Scherer Institute (PSI). They use it to describe the influence of "digital lifestyles" up to 2050, based on rebound effects. This means that any higher consumption that occurs - for example in the home office due to...

Effective insulation can contribute to climate protection and reduce energy costs. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) points this out. In its campaign "Zukunft Zuhause - Nachhaltig sanieren" (Future at home - sustainable renovation), it emphasizes that proper insulation ensures greater living comfort and preserves the value of properties all year round. Energy-efficient refurbishment measures are used both in summer and winter.

In Germany, residential buildings account for almost a third of CO2 emissions, which is why energy-efficient renovations are increasingly being promoted. However, federal funding for efficient buildings is mainly aimed at owners, which leads to social inequalities. The German Tenants' Association and the Öko-Institut are calling for funding programs to focus more on social justice and...

Considerable progress has been made with regard to the energy efficiency of residential properties in Germany since 2014. In the eastern federal states in particular, extensive refurbishment measures since reunification have significantly increased energy efficiency. Improvements have also been made in the western federal states, particularly in urban and southern German regions. While...

Germany's potential for using solar energy on buildings is enormous, but still largely untapped. In 2023, 61.1 terawatt hours of solar power were produced. This corresponds to only twelve percent of national electricity consumption. According to the knowledge magazine "scinexx", if Germany's annual electricity requirements were to be covered by solar energy, the area of the island of Rügen - i.e. almost 1,000...