Energy -efficient renovations: Germany remains far behind the goals

Germany is on the abyss on burning questions of energetic renovation! The alarming quota of 0.72% in the first three quarters in 2024 reveals a blatant failure, which is not mitigated even in the coming fourth quarter with shocking 0.61%. According to the latest market data study by B+L Market Data Bonn, on behalf of the Federal Association of Energy -Efficient Building School (BuVEG), a dark picture for the entire year 2024 is emerging: an estimated total renovation rate of only 0.69% - a small light that also burned in 2023 at 0.7%

The results are unmistakable: the 2%brand that is necessary for the achievement of our climate goals by 2030 remains unreachable. A terrifying reality that doesn't leave us calm!

a call for urgency

Jan Peter Hinrichs, Managing Director of the BUVEG, raises the alarm: "The activities in energetic renovation remain at a worrying level, which unfortunately continues to solidify." The concerned voice warns that a turnaround is not in sight and that the upcoming winter is again leaving many Germans in the cold horror of high heating costs and the consumption of enormous energies. The painful increase in heating costs, which can be felt in every German household!

Here are the frightening facts about the renovation rates for the fourth quarter:

• renovation rate: 0.74%
• renovation rate facade: 0.5%
• renovation rate windows: 1.19%
• renovation rate overall: 0.69%

These figures show a dramatic decline compared to previous years: 2022 we were still 0.88%!

The oppressive reality for residential units

In a country that relies on sustainability, only 270,000 residential units were renovated in 2023. If the current renovation activities remain on this rhetorical fairway, the number will hardly exceed more than 275,000 annual renovations in 2024 and 2025. However, in order to achieve our goal of climate neutrality, it would have to be at least 460,000 by 2025 and even 730,000 renovated residential units by 2030!

"There is a lot of catching up to do with energetic renovation of facades, roofs and windows in Germany," clarifies Hinrichs. He reminds that a better building envelope not only drastically lowers the heating energy consumption, but also increases the running costs and living comfort considerably!

Time is pushing and the need for action is enormous if we do not want to get any further into the dark catch of inefficiency!