Panel discussion
The human factor in climate change in the housing sector: why structural 'business as usual' is no longer enough.
The energy transition debate has long since moved from 'if' to 'how' - the goals of reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions could not be more relevant today. This is precisely why it is important to broaden the focus of the housing industry's climate protection strategies from building physics and energy technology to include the human factor.
With guests from politics, the housing sector, science and industry, this year's online discussion (unfortunately only in German) focused on politics and technology, particularly with regard to consumer behaviour and its influence on the everyday use of energy technology.
By loading the video you accept YouTube’s privacy policy.
Look back
From a reliable framework and an industry that delivers
At the beginning of the discussion, the four participants briefly outlined their main concerns and points of view. Prof. Dr Andreas Pfnür, Head of the Department of Real Estate Management at the Technical University of Darmstadt, emphasised that the energy transition has so far been a purely technical problem and that the human factor has not been sufficiently taken into account.
Dr Alexander Renner, Head of Department for Energy Policy Issues in the Building Sector, also sees the goal of climate neutrality by 2045 primarily as a socio-political component. In addition to the financial aspect, the main task is to convince citizens. For landlords and property owners, the aspects of planning security and municipal heat planning are particularly important.
Ingo Wöste, Managing Director of WOGE Werdohl, stresses the importance of a reliable political framework so that the housing industry can rely on a certain degree of planning security. He also says: "We need to take a measured approach to climate protection. He continues: Targets must be achievable if they are to be taken seriously. Another point he advocates is functional products from industry.
Dr. Dirk Then, Managing Director of the noventic group, stresses that there can be no one-size-fits-all solution to the global phenomenon of climate change, and therefore to the energy transition. Rather, the focus should be on the sum of all the solutions - from the big ones to the many small ones, sometimes with minimal investment - that already exist and work today. All these diverse and numerous approaches create the most efficient leverage for climate protection in technological and economic competition.
Tenants see themselves as part of the solution - Networking and digitalisation for more climate protection
The two worlds - technology and people - should no longer be considered separately, but brought together. Dr Then stresses: 'People as consumers need to be more central to the development of climate change strategies and solutions.´ In order to make the most of efficiency technologies, it is important that everyone involved is empowered to do so - through digital support routines or intuitive apps. As an example, he cites the intelligent heating control system for apartment blocks that noventic group companies are currently developing together with the proptech company tado°. In a brief impulse, Dr Pfnür refers to the study he conducted on the role of the tenant: the majority of residents are willing to share their data for this purpose. The prerequisite is that they contribute to greater climate protection and reduce their consumption costs in this way.
Everyone needs to engage in more dialogue and create a common basis of interest'.
The major challenges of the energy and heating transition no longer lie solely in technological innovation. Much has been done in this area in recent years. Rather, all stakeholders need to be reassured that the investment in and familiarisation with new efficiency technologies will be sustainable. Tenants and homeowners must be equally involved in this process and build confidence in new technologies. Political commitment is therefore a crucial prerequisite for building trust.
In addition, all stakeholders need to engage in dialogue: We must have the courage to develop cooperative approaches, free from particular perspectives. Just as there is no single universal solution to the energy transition, there is no single approach to communication. Stakeholders need to create communities of prey. To attract the necessary investment - but also to ensure acceptance of the new technologies when they are introduced and operated.
