Repräsentanz Transparente Gebäudehülle (RTG)
2023
The energy refurbishment rate of buildings has long been underperforming. As a result, heating demands in the buildings sector are not falling as quickly as they could and are thus making it more difficult to achieve the climate targets set for 2030 and 2045.
The introduction of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for existing buildings is considered an important element in increasing the energy renovation rate. The European Commission is further addressing this issue with its proposal to amend the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which introduced MEPS in Europe in December 2021.
Though the concrete configuration of MEPS in Germany is yet to be defined, it is important that MEPS complement existing policy instruments where potential for greenhouse gas savings is currently particularly high. Even after the introduction of MEPS, existing regulations and funding programmes will still be necessary to ensure the success of the energy transition in the buildings sector. The goal is to prioritise buildings with high CO2 emissions. In particular, funding can be tailored specifically to MEPS.
For the policy paper on behalf of Repräsentanz Transparente Gebäudehülle, our team evaluated existing studies and expert opinions on the topic. The paper provides a compact overview with answers and recommendations on the implementation of MEPS in Germany.
The study is available for download from our client:
To the study (PDF in German)
Project team: Dominik Rau, Paurnima Kulkarni, Noha Saad, Nils Thamling
Last update: 20.01.2023
Principal
We investigate the climate-damaging emissions, water consumption and energy consumption of the German pharmaceutical industry on behalf of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceu-tical Companies (Verband Forschender Arzneimittel-Hersteller e. V.).
In the medium and long term, average wholesale electricity prices are above the 2019/2020 level. Our updated scenarios for the vbw.
The liberalisation of the electricity markets in the EU was once supposed to reduce costs. Sven Kreidelmeyer writes in the Swiss magazine "Die Volkswirtschaft" about the effects of free competition and current developments in the European electricity sector, among other things.
For a paper by Environmental Action Germany, we provided case studies on the question of whether the switch to heat pumps in typical single- and multi-family homes is more economical than exchanging gas boilers.
A study for the Bertelsmann Stiftung shows which climate policy measures can best support the switch to low-emission production processes.
If savings continue to be as low as in January and February, the risk of a gas shortage will in-crease in the coming winter.
The Research for Sustainability (FONA) funding programme is intended to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Will this target be achieved and which methods can be used to measure this? We investigate this together with partners for the BMBF.
One potential building block: the Federal Network Agency commissioned Prognos to conduct a study that can support the necessary assessment in the case of gas shortages.
How can existing buildings become climate-neutral by 2045? On behalf of the BMWK, we devel-oped scenarios and develop measures.
Although German gas storage tanks remain at good levels, our vbw monitoring revealed that sav-ings due to behavioural changes were no longer detectable.
Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.