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zukunft haus - future house
future house: The umbrella brand name project for the dena building area.
The challenge of energy efficiency
The increasing global energy requirements, high energy prices and not least climatic changes have brought energy efficiency to the attention of politicians and into the public eye. The new targets are ambitious: At the EU summit in March 2007, the heads of state and government agreed to reduce primary energy requirements and emissions of greenhouse gases by 20 percent by 2020 compared to 1990. The proportion of renewable energies is also to be increased to 20 percent.
Potential for energy efficiency in buildings
Making up 40 percent of the final energy demand, buildings are the largest consumers of energy in the EU and Germany – ahead of transportation and industry. Private households in Germany use approximately 87 percent of the required final energy for heating rooms and water; only 13 percent is used for electrical devices and lighting. At the same time, the building sector in Germany and the EU has the greatest economic savings potential. 19 percent of the total final energy required for buildings – 180 TWh annually – could be saved by 2020 with energy-efficient renovation and new buildings. That is equal to 70 million tons of the climate gas, CO2.
dena projects for energy-efficient buildings
Under the zukunft haus (future house) umbrella brand, the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency – initiates and manages projects to make use of energy efficiency potentials in buildings. In cooperation with the German government and reliable partners, dena develops market instruments such as the energy certificate for buildings and implements model projects for highly energy-efficient renovations throughout Germany.
Government strategies for energy efficiency
In their coalition agreement, the German government declared increasing energy efficiency to be one of their key focus areas. Their strategy to reach this goal is based on three main pillars:
1. Administrative and regulatory measures such as the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) create the legal conditions required.
2. Grant aid programs such as the CO2 building renovation program create a strong incentive for energyefficient construction and renovation. They increase the cost-effectiveness of construction measures and give the building owners flexibility in financing.
3. Market-oriented measures and instruments such as the energy certificate for buildings or lighthouse projects create favourable market conditions for energy efficiency performance. They increase the transparency of the market, compensate for any knowledge lacking, provide practical strategies and aids and support market introduction of new technologies and standards.
dena projects for energy efficiency
The dena projects under the umbrella brand zukunft haus (future house) specifically target the creation of favourable market conditions for energy efficiency in the building area and faster introduction of energy-efficient services and technologies.
dena developed and tested the energy certificate for buildings as a key strategic instrument for reducing CO2 in buildings. Today, the demand-oriented dena energy certificate is already in use by approximately 21.000 exhibitors, supported by dena with various aids e. g. the Energy Certificate for Buildings” guide. In a wide-ranging campaign, dena informs consumers and industry experts of the advantages and possible uses for the energy certificate.
In the low energy house in the building stock project, dena has to date initiated and coordinated the energyefficient renovation of 143 model projects. After renovation, these properties are twice as energy-efficient as a similar new building. Expertise networks are established on site for implementation. The experience from the projects is used in the definition of new financial aid standards and legislation. From 2007 onwards, schools can also take part in the model project for the first time.
With projects related to contracting in public properties, dena promotes the use of energy services by the state, provides the specific knowledge required and lobbies for improved contracting conditions. Events, consultancy and aids provide practical information on contracting and energy services.
The international projects by dena promote energyefficient construction and renovation in the major global growth markets, in particular Russia and China. As part of this, successful technologies and experience from Germany are adapted and transferred to the situations in the respective countries together with experts on-site.
All projects are accompanied by intensive public relations work under the umbrella brand zukunft haus (future house). dena informs consumers, industry experts and the media with press work, events and publications. There is a particular focus on information on renewable energies in buildings.
