Germany’s ageing public buildings urgently require energy-efficient renovation, say leading associations. With a €215 billion backlog, experts warn that without swift action, rising carbon costs and outdated infrastructure will undermine national climate targets.
Germany’s leading energy and construction associations have issued a joint call for urgent action to renovate the country’s public buildings with a focus on energy efficiency. They argue that schools, town halls, and other municipal facilities are outdated and poorly insulated, posing a significant obstacle to achieving national climate targets. The renovation backlog, estimated at over €215 billion, reflects decades of underinvestment and neglect.
The associations propose that funds from Germany’s €500 billion climate and transformation fund be allocated to accelerate energy-efficient upgrades. They also advocate for reforms to public procurement laws to enable municipalities to invest more effectively in sustainable infrastructure. Without these measures, they warn, rising carbon prices will make operating inefficient buildings increasingly costly, placing further strain on local budgets.
A recent report by the German Energy Agency (dena) underscores the urgency, revealing that current renovation rates fall far short of what is needed to meet the country’s 2045 climate neutrality goal. The associations stress that public buildings must serve as role models for energy efficiency, setting a standard for the private sector and demonstrating the government’s commitment to climate action.
