German Federal policy on thermal renovation of existing homes: A policy evaluation

German Federal policy on thermal renovation of existing homes was evaluated in terms of how well it is achieving its stated goal of reducing GHG emissions from home heating by 80% within 40 years. The study examined both the technical efficacy of the policy in relation to the actual built environment in which it is set, and the prevailing policy discourse that drives and promotes the policy. It was found that the policy is falling far short of achieving its aims, mostly because the regulations are too strict to be workable in most cases. The thermal parameters demanded by the regulations are technically feasible and economically viable only for certain types of ideal house design and for homeowners willing to accept high economic risk with distant payback times. Hence the policy is out of touch with both the physical realities of the majority of German homes, and the economic outlook of homeowners.

► Germany is failing to achieve its GHG goals in insulation of existing homes.
► The standards are technically and economically extremely difficult to achieve.
► Small homes produce 80% of the GHG emissions but are the least responsive sector.
► Policymaking tends to be informed by ideological, not practical, considerations.
► Other countries can learn important lessons from this.