What is the potential for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide through better thermal insulation in buildings?
There are 39 million living units in Germany, corresponding to about 2.9 billion square meters of living area and an average living area of 85 square meters. Twenty-nine million of these living units are in pre-1979 buildings that are considered to be in need of energy-saving renovation. Some five million living units have already been renovated, with a further 24 million still in need of energy-saving modernization. The average heating requirement for old buildings is 25 liters of heating oil per square meter and year. If all 24 million living units were to be renovated in such a way that they subsequently required the recommended 7 liters of heating oil per square meter and year, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by more than 90 million metric tons. Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the burning of fossil fuels to heat homes could thus be reduced by 75%.
