Saving energy or protecting the climate? Owners focus on cost savings!

Saving energy or protecting the climate? Owners focus on cost savings!

An alarming survey shows: one in seven property owners in Germany is planning an energy-efficient renovation within the next year! But that is not enough to achieve the urgently needed progress in the energy transition. According to a study by the market and opinion research institute Civey, commissioned by the Schwäbisch Hall building society, the building sector is lagging behind the climate targets. 60 percent of the 20 million residential buildings are over 45 years old and only one percent meet current energy requirements.

The results are clear: for most property owners, economic aspects take precedence over climate protection. Energy-saving renovations must be affordable, reduce running costs and pay off in the long term. Mike Kammann, CEO of Schwäbisch Hall, emphasizes that owners need clear, reliable information to overcome uncertainties regarding financial and legal framework conditions.

Energy saving as the main motivator

The survey shows that saving energy is the main reason for renovation - 59 percent of those surveyed say this. Increasing the value of the property and saving money in the long term are also important factors. But climate protection? It is a motivating factor for only one in four respondents. The high investment costs are the biggest obstacle: 51 percent of owners see this as the main argument against renovation.

A third of those surveyed also doubt whether renovation would be worthwhile in the long term. The bureaucratic effort and uncertainty about future legal requirements also increase reservations. There is a clear need for action: over 36 percent of property owners would only invest in a renovation if they had sufficient equity.

Politics is required! Clear support measures and legal requirements are necessary to motivate owners. Kammann calls for a mix of support and demands in order to promote energy-saving renovation. “We need positive signals and less bureaucracy,” says Kammann. This is the only way to convince property owners that energy-saving renovations are worthwhile in several ways: through lower energy costs, increased value and legal compliance.