Anyone planning an energy renovation often has to dig deep into their pockets. Three measures are almost tied at the top. And those who have renovated are often satisfied.
The willingness to renovate the energy efficiency of one’s own home is on the decline. This is indicated by a survey commissioned by the Climate Neutral Germany Initiative among owners of single- and two-family homes that they live in themselves. It also shows how much money is being spent and what prevents people from renovating or what drives them to do so.
How high is the willingness to renovate?
Almost half of homeowners say they are currently implementing energy-saving measures or have done so in the past five years. Of those who have not done so, 11.8 percent want to take action in the next twelve months. However, this is a significant decrease. Two years ago, in a corresponding survey, 17.9 percent of those who had not yet renovated or had renovated had corresponding plans.
What is planned?
At the top of the list of measures planned by those renovating is roof insulation, which is mentioned by almost a third. Only slightly behind are new windows with better glazing and solar systems. The installation of a heat pump in fourth place falls significantly behind in comparison, at just under a sixth. This is followed by solar thermal energy with a good seventh and facade insulation with an eighth. Almost one in 21 people from this group is planning a complete energy renovation.
How much money do people want to spend?
Around a fifth of those surveyed mentioned a budget of over 40,000 euros for their planned or already implemented measures. For around a quarter it was between 20,000 and 40,000 euros. Between a quarter and a fifth of those surveyed have budgets of up to 10,000 euros, and just as many have budgets of 10,000 to 20,000 euros. Almost a tenth did not provide any information.
What stops homeowners from making energy-efficient renovations?
Those who have not renovated or are currently doing so most often justify this in the survey by saying that their house does not need it. A close second is not wanting to take out a loan for it. Concern about not being able to afford the investment, uncertainty caused by the political debate, the organizational effort and the worry about having to renovate again according to new standards in a few years were also frequently mentioned.
What could change that?
If you ask those who are neither renovating nor have just renovated what could motivate them to take such a step, the most common answer is that it would be easy and uncomplicated to implement, closely followed by the possibility that the renovation could be technically necessary. State funding is close behind in third place. On the other hand, positive aspects for the environment, adaptations to climate change or low loan rates hardly play a role.
And what motivated those who renovated?
Those who have recently renovated or are currently doing so often do so in order to increase living comfort. A good 80 percent said this was completely or somewhat true. This is followed by the increase in the value of one’s own properties and fear of rising energy costs. Positive aspects for the environment are in fourth place, but 73 percent still completely or at least somewhat agree.
Are those renovating satisfied?
Only for a tiny proportion of those surveyed did the expectations of the energy renovations carried out not be fulfilled. 96.5 percent said they had fully or at least somewhat agreed.
Source: Stern
