Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand
Summary
This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) reviews information instruments designed to promote energy efficiency retrofits in the residential building stock, with a primary focus on Germany and supporting evidence from international case studies. The document categorizes these tools based on the stage of the homeowner's decision-making process: moving uninterested households toward consideration, assisting those in the planning phase, and training the professionals who implement the retrofits.
Key insights
- Detailed energy bills and reports that include normative data (such as local averages) are cost-effective tools that can reduce household energy consumption by 1% to 10%, with a median saving of approximately 5%. The effectiveness of these tools is higher when participation is automated via an 'opt-out' system rather than requiring an 'opt-in' subscription.
- In-home energy displays and smart meters provide real-time consumption data that can lead to electricity savings of around 5% for large samples of regular users, though some motivated individuals may achieve savings of 20% or more. Success depends heavily on accompanying information campaigns and the financial motivation of the consumer.
- Local leadership programs leveraging peer communication (neighbors, friends, and associations) are efficient, low-cost ways to deliver retrofit advice. In Finland, the Energy Environment Experts programme's direct savings through 2010 were estimated at 1,327 tCO2, representing 14% of the total CO2 emission saving requirement proposed in the Energy Saving and Efficiency Program.
- Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have a moderate to low impact on both modernization and purchasing decisions. While they are often more trusted than other information sources, they frequently fail to translate energy ratings into the financial implications that homeowners prioritize most.
- Online energy analysis tools are highly popular and cost-effective, with an average cost of approximately USD 0.5 per household. In Germany, tools like 'Heizcheck' and 'Modernisierungsratgeber' have been significant triggers for retrofits, with 91% of users of the latter having recently conducted or planning to conduct retrofits.
- Energy auditing and consultation services vary in complexity and effectiveness. In Germany, the detailed 'BAfA-Vor-Ort-Beratung' program saw over 90% of users implement or plan to implement energy-saving measures, with over 80% expressing satisfaction with the consultant's expertise and independence.
- Professional contractors are a primary information source for households; however, the quality of their advice varies. Regular certification of craftsmen can help build household trust, but the small size of most construction firms (92% of EU firms have fewer than 10 employees) makes integrating training into project timelines difficult.
Cite the original document
- APA
- Novikova, A., Amecke, H., Neuhoff, K., Stelmakh, K., Kiss, B., Rohde, C., Dunkelberg, E., Weiß, J., Matschoss, K., & Darby, S. (2011). Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Informationsinstrumente-zur-Förderung-von-Energieeinsparungen.pdf
- Chicago
- Novikova, Aleksandra, Hermann Amecke, Karsten Neuhoff, Kateryna Stelmakh, Bernadett Kiss, Clemens Rohde, Elisa Dunkelberg, et al. Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand. Climate Policy Initiative, 2011. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Informationsinstrumente-zur-Förderung-von-Energieeinsparungen.pdf.
- Wikipedia
- {{cite report |last1=Novikova |first1=Aleksandra |last2=Amecke |first2=Hermann |last3=Neuhoff |first3=Karsten |last4=Stelmakh |first4=Kateryna |last5=Kiss |first5=Bernadett |last6=Rohde |first6=Clemens |last7=Dunkelberg |first7=Elisa |last8=Weiß |first8=Julika |last9=Matschoss |first9=Kaisa |display-authors=etal |title=Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=27 July 2011 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Informationsinstrumente-zur-Förderung-von-Energieeinsparungen.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}
- BibTeX
- @techreport{novikova2011informationsinstrumente, author = {Novikova, Aleksandra and Amecke, Hermann and Neuhoff, Karsten and Stelmakh, Kateryna and Kiss, Bernadett and Rohde, Clemens and Dunkelberg, Elisa and Weiß, Julika and Matschoss, Kaisa and Darby, Sarah}, title = {{Informationsinstrumente zur Förderung von Energieeinsparungen im Wohngebäudebestand}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2011}, month = jul, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Informationsinstrumente-zur-Förderung-von-Energieeinsparungen.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }
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