Map of Policies Supporting Thermal Efficiency in Germany’s Residential Building Sector

The report categorizes German residential building policies into financial instruments, information tools, and performance standards. It argues that these tools are complementary; for example, financial incentives require information tools to be effective. Key financial mechanisms include KfW loans and the Heating Cost Ordinance, while information tools range from energy audits to mass media. Performance standards like the EnEV primarily target new constructions, with the report noting significant non-compliance rates for new buildings, estimated between 25% and 35%.

• Germany's energy policy for residential buildings relies on three complementary categories: financial instruments to improve investment economics, information instruments to highlight advantages, and standards to mandate performance requirements.
• The KfW Bankengruppe is a primary provider of financial support; in 2010, its 'Wohnen' (habitation) programme provided 18,000 million EUR in support, with the 'Energieeffizient Bauen' and 'Energieeffizient Sanieren' programmes specifically contributing 9,000 million EUR to support nearly one million dwelling units.
• The Heating Cost Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung), enacted in 1981 (old Länder) and 1996 (new Länder), requires metering and pricing of heating based on actual consumption, which IEA estimates leads to energy efficiency effects of approximately 15%.
• Information instruments target different stages of the owner's decision process: mass media and heating bills target 'uninterested' actors to move them to 'planning', while energy audits and desk advice support those moving from 'planning' to 'action'.
• The Energy Savings Ordinance (EnEV) is the primary performance standard, but it is less stringent for existing buildings, applying only to retrofits where at least 10% of a component's surface is affected.
• Compliance with the EnEV is problematic, with estimated non-compliance rates for new buildings in Germany reaching between 25% and 35%.
• The Renewable Energies Heat Act (EEWärmeG) mandates minimum renewable heat production for new buildings (e.g., 15% solar, 30% gaseous biomass), but its additional impact may be low because builders can offset renewable installations by reducing insulation quality under EnEV.

APA

Amecke, H., & Neuhoff, K. (2011). Map of Policies Supporting Thermal Efficiency in Germany’s Residential Building Sector. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Policy-Map.pdf

Chicago

Amecke, Hermann, and Karsten Neuhoff. Map of Policies Supporting Thermal Efficiency in Germany’s Residential Building Sector. Climate Policy Initiative, 2011. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Policy-Map.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Amecke |first1=Hermann |last2=Neuhoff |first2=Karsten |title=Map of Policies Supporting Thermal Efficiency in Germany’s Residential Building Sector |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=23 August 2011 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Policy-Map.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{amecke2011map, author = {Amecke, Hermann and Neuhoff, Karsten}, title = {{Map of Policies Supporting Thermal Efficiency in Germany’s Residential Building Sector}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2011}, month = aug, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Policy-Map.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }