Dr. Plesser, the Bundestag recently passed the amendment to the Building Energy Act (GEG). How do you evaluate the law, which had previously caused quite a stir?
It is important that the law is now in place, and we can focus on its implementation. It is also positive that the focus is not so much on further reducing energy demand, as we have already reached a balanced level of energy demand for construction (the use of embodied energy for building construction) and operation (energy for building operation). Regarding the technical systems for energy supply, the GEG will prevent the use of outdated fossil technologies in future new builds and renovations.
A word about technological openness: Buildings and supply networks are long-term investments. To implement them on a large scale, clear foundations are needed. Here, a so-called technological openness can actually be counterproductive. The use of hydrogen as a fuel for space heating is technically possible but not economically viable in the next 30 years. What is much more important is accelerating processes and decision-making in the thousands of new construction and renovation projects, rather than burdening them with expensive variant studies on impractical technologies.
A major step forward are some of the demands related to building automation. While it is unlikely that new buildings and renovations will be equipped within the short timeframes required, the fundamental demand for technical monitoring of non-residential buildings – in GEG §71a (1) under the term “digital energy monitoring technology” – represents a quantum leap. Builders should take advantage of this demand and require standardized interfaces for all buildings and systems to enable innovative services while avoiding a “vendor lock.” The service profile for technical monitoring by an independent third party, according to the AMEV Recommendation 158, has already established itself as a powerful and highly cost-effective service in the market and can now be scaled comprehensively – for new construction, renovations, and every individual modernization of a technical system.
Speaking of renovation in existing buildings: What is necessary now to put existing buildings more in focus?
Building owners should quickly get an overview of the energy status of their buildings and potential measures. This assessment can be done with manageable effort and provides a good starting point for the necessary steps towards transformation over the next 20 years. Importantly, most buildings do not require immediate large investments. Simply put: it’s not about bringing forward investments, but rather applying the right measures when they are needed. For example, a gas boiler doesn’t need to be replaced immediately, but if it needs to be replaced after 20-25 years of operation, district heating or a heat pump should be considered. In the short term, the only necessary measure is the implementation of a technical monitoring system for the building’s operation, which can immediately improve operations by 10-20% and also capture the necessary data for reporting.
Even at the EXPO Real, there was much talk about digital solutions in building technology. How much technology and ‘intelligence’ do buildings actually need?
The construction industry lags far behind other sectors when it comes to improving productivity. Therefore, it is urgently necessary for the industry to explore the potential of digitalization. However, it is important to note that digitalization should not be an end in itself. The additional technologization of buildings, such as in the areas of mechanical ventilation and room-by-room regulation, offers opportunities in terms of comfort and, to some extent, energy efficiency. The challenges here lie in cost-effectiveness, the availability of qualified professionals, and the quality of implementation. Such measures should not be implemented without technical monitoring.
Technical monitoring is, by the way, an excellent example of successful digitalization in construction. In recent years, we have been able to introduce a new, high-quality service precisely because the process can be almost completely delivered digitally. This is why I also see good prospects for the requirement in the GEG for technical monitoring as a quality management tool to be successfully implemented and not to fail due to a shortage of skilled workers. Furthermore, with the requirement for technical commissioning management in GEG §71a(3), it is also ensured that the necessary services for adjusting the systems in the first operational year after commissioning are provided and compensated for by the specialists and contractors.
By September 30, 2023, owners of multi-family buildings with more than ten apartments were required to perform a hydraulic balancing. Is it possible to draw an interim conclusion: a success for the climate and efficiency?
According to our knowledge, very little has actually happened in this regard. A hydraulic balancing, including inventory, planning with calculations for the heating system design, and implementation in the building, easily costs €1,000 per apartment in multi-family buildings. In addition to the costs, the availability of necessary specialists and contractors is a bottleneck, making this measure a choke point – regardless of its effectiveness. This is exactly where we need innovative approaches, and digitalization can help. For example, we recently launched a digital heating monitoring system that can be easily ordered and installed by the property owner themselves – without any specialists. A fully digitalized process and AI-based analysis enable concrete operational optimization measures within two weeks of the order, at just about 10% of the cost of a hydraulic balancing. This is a real gain for the industry and a sensible use of digitalization and AI.
