The building sector is still responsible for 30 percent of CO2 emissions and 35 percent of final energy consumption in Germany. The pressure to act is correspondingly high if we are to achieve the 2030 and 2045 climate protection goals. In May 2023, a roundtable discussion with high-ranking representatives from politics and business provided political impetus for this task. The event was hosted by the BDI initiative “Energy-Efficient Buildings.”

Federal Government Goals for New Construction and Building Retrofits

The central topic of the first panel, featuring representatives from the Ministry of Construction, the CDU/CSU, and the BDI, was the federal government’s planned amendment to the Building Energy Act, set to take effect in January 2024, which has dominated public discourse as the “Heating Act.” Sören Bartol, Member of the Bundestag and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development, and Construction, emphasized that the public’s uncertainty regarding heating system replacements is largely caused by a campaign opposing the proposal. The current draft mandates the use of 65 percent renewable energy and is otherwise technology-neutral, according to Bartol.

Jens Spahn, Member of the Bundestag and deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, countered that the draft bill turns climate protection into a matter of faith, whereas reason is called for here. He argued that the increasing ideologization is the real criticism that must be leveled at the government.

For the BDI, the planned requirement of 65 percent renewable energy for heating is an important step in the right direction. However, it doesn’t stop with replacing the heating system, said Uwe Großmann, deputy chair of the BDI initiative “Energy-Efficient Buildings.” During the discussion, he noted that buildings must be renovated holistically if climate protection goals are to be achieved. His call: the introduction of a requirement to create a renovation roadmap—generously subsidized by the government—to ensure the necessary holistic perspective on the building is established.

Enabling Greater Climate Protection in Buildings

In addition to the political framework, the right technologies and targeted investments are also crucial for the success of the heating transition. Julia Verlinden, Member of the Bundestag, emphasized during the day’s second panel discussion that the draft bill for the 65-percent renewable energy requirement already includes eight technology groups that can be utilized. “All available climate-friendly technologies are represented,” she said, “but perhaps a ‘magic technology’ will be added in the future,” remarked the deputy parliamentary group leader of Alliance 90/The Greens, referring to hydrogen.

Verena Hubertz, Member of the Bundestag, noted that the coalition must quickly provide clarity regarding the 65 percent renewable energy regulation so that businesses and citizens have planning certainty. Otherwise, investments would be postponed to the future, according to the deputy SPD parliamentary group chairwoman and entrepreneur. Uwe Großmann explained on behalf of the BDI that industry needs a sufficient lead time of at least twelve months for orderly implementation. A ramp-up of production capacity and employment in industry and skilled trades is essential and takes time.

Setting the Course for Greater Sustainability in Buildings

To drive change in the building sector, serial construction is a key component that promises efficiency, cost savings, and time savings. Instead of designing and constructing each building individually, the industry uses standardized, mass-produced components in serial construction and renovation and then assembles them on-site. Franziska Mascheck, a member of the Bundestag, pointed out, however, that while the SPD views serial construction and renovation as important, this approach does not work for the entire building sector. Many small cogs must work together to design buildings sustainably, according to the member of the Construction Committee.

One of these many cogs, for example, is the digital building resource passport, which stores all relevant information in one central location and provides transparency regarding a building’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle. Mascheck endorsed the introduction of this project, calling it the right approach from a sustainability and long-term perspective—including with regard to shortening planning times.

Uwe Großmann emphasized during this third panel discussion that harmonizing state building codes and standards would be beneficial for the economy, as would shortening approval timelines. Christina-Johanne Schröder, Member of the Bundestag, agreed and called for a comprehensive update to the building code, as it no longer reflects the realities of modern life. Commercial, residential, and industrial sectors are becoming increasingly intertwined, according to the spokesperson on construction policy for Alliance 90/The Greens in the Bundestag.

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