CO₂ efficiency instead of energy efficiency: an initiative from science, business and associations is calling for a change of course - ROCKETHOME also supports this idea.
Buildings are responsible for around 40% of CO₂ emissions in Germany - a huge lever for climate policy. But despite investments in the hundreds of billions, little has changed in recent years. The reason? An outdated focus: instead of CO₂ avoidance, there has been a one-sided focus on energy efficiency and ideal standards.
An initiative founded by five scientists and supported by the GdW Bundesverband deutscher Wohnungs- und Immobilienunternehmen e.V. as well as numerous companies and associations has joined forces to initiate a real change of course in climate protection for buildings. Their clear message: the goal should not be energy efficiency - but CO₂ efficiency.
ROCKETHOME also supports the initiative and shares the conviction that practical, quickly effective and socially acceptable solutions are needed to transform the building sector in a sustainable way.
CO₂ efficiency instead of perfect building insulation
Measures in the building sector should be assessed according to how much CO₂ they save per euro invested - not whether they make a building "perfect" in terms of energy efficiency. This is because full refurbishments are often expensive, lengthy and simply not feasible in practice for many existing buildings.
Instead, we need practical, socially responsible climate protection that focuses on fast, affordable and effective solutions: moderate and serial refurbishment, technology swaps and modular systems.
The "Practical path to CO₂ reduction in the building sector" initiative is therefore calling for a real paradigm shift: policy, subsidies and regulation must be based on the actual CO₂ effect - not on efficiency classes or standard requirements.
The five key demands of the initiative
1. promote emission-free heat supply
- The focus must shift away from energy efficiency and towards reducing greenhouse gases.
- Reduce bureaucracy, simplify regulations, treat renewable energies - including those generated locally - equally.
- Implement measures with a rapid impact: e.g. solar use on roofs, operational optimization of heating systems.
2. moderate refurbishment
- Maintaining gray emissions (CO₂ from production & construction) through smart, graduated refurbishment measures.
- Broad-based solutions such as serial refurbishments or fleet approaches for entire neighborhoods.
- Securing planning capacities, preserving building culture and architectural diversity.
3. also use heat pumps in existing buildings
- Modern heat pumps also work in unrenovated buildings.
- Even moderate refurbishments enable efficient operation.
- Higher efficiency classes such as EH55 often offer little added value compared to the legal standard.
4. introduction of an emissions reduction pathway
- Goal-oriented regulation instead of small-scale regulations.
- Revenue from emissions trading should flow back to citizens in full.
- Link subsidies directly to the actual CO₂ reduction.
5. prioritize circular economy & conservation
- In future, permits and requirements will be based on CO₂ emissions per square meter.
- Existing buildings and secondary materials should be assessed with "zero" emissions.
- Focus on unmixed separability, durability and use of renewable raw materials.
Conclusion: A new, realistic path to climate neutrality
To achieve the climate targets, we don't need theoretically perfect buildings - we need a strategy that works: fast, socially responsible and resource-efficient. This includes:
- Prioritization of buildings with high renovation potential
- Avoidance of premature renovations with high gray emissions
- Decarbonization of the heat supply instead of a nationwide wave of insulation
- Circularity, sustainability and building culture as guiding principles
In short: fewer regulations, more impact. Less perfection, more CO₂ savings. And climate protection that takes reality and society into account.
How ROCKETHOME contributes to CO₂ efficiency
ROCKETHOME supports this necessary change of course not only ideally, but also very concretely with our products and digital solutions. Through intelligent building automation, energy monitoring and smart control systems, ROCKETHOME enables transparent and user-friendly recording and optimization of energy consumption - without the need for costly full refurbishments. The platform solutions help housing companies to make CO₂ savings potential visible in real time and implement targeted measures - from optimizing the operation of the heating system to integrating renewable energy sources.
Interested? Then get in touch with us
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