Building Energy Act

Act today for a better tomorrow

By 2050, Europe is to be the first climate-neutral continent. The building sector has a key role to play in this. With the EU Building Directive (EPBD) and the Building Energy Act (GEG), the achievement of this goal becomes a legal obligation. Find out to what extent your buildings are affected and how you can meet the new requirements with future-proof technologies.

With around 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions, the building sector in the EU is a key lever for achieving climate targets. In order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and avoid CO2 emissions, innovative concepts for heat supply based on renewable energies are needed. Digital technologies for building automation provide effective support. In this way, energy consumption can be reduced by up to 30 percent without having to carry out costly renovation measures.

Building Energy Act – The national implementation of the EU Building Directive EPBD

In order to create the legal framework for decarbonisation in the building sector, the EU Energy Performance Buildings Directive (EPBD) was adopted in 2003. In Germany, the EPBD is implemented by the Building Energy Act (GEG). The GEG first came into force in 2020 and replaced several existing laws and ordinances – including the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV), the Energy Saving Act (EnEG) and the Renewable Energy Heat Act (EEWärmeG).

In September 2023, the German Bundestag passed the law amending the GEG, the so-called GEG Amendment 2024 – also known as the Heating Act. The amendment contains new requirements for existing and new non-residential buildings in the areas of heating systems, building automation and energy data management. It came into force on January 1, 2024.

Our solutions for the GEG's key requirements for non-residential buildings

Not only owners and builders are affected by the new requirements of the GEG, but also engineering offices and companies carrying out HVAC and I&C technology. We address relevant changes for non-residential buildings and describe how we support you in implementing the requirements.

65% renewable energy obligation for heating systems

From 2024, new regulations for heating systems will apply. These include, among other things, a renewable energy obligation for newly installed heating systems. There are many ways to meet the requirements, e.g. by connecting to a heating network or electrifying the heat supply. We will find the right solutions for you and support you from consulting and planning to the implementation and operation of innovative and sustainable heat supply concepts.

A person is standing in front of a large screen displaying a graph with a blue line.

One of the most iconic buildings in Milan's Porta Nuova district – “Pirelli 35”

Installation of building automation in non-residential buildings

Building automation will be given greater importance in the GEG amendment: from 2024, minimum requirements for the installation of digital energy monitoring technology as well as building automation and control in non-residential buildings will apply. We offer an extensive portfolio of modern building automation systems and support you with digital energy monitoring solutions in continuously monitoring, evaluating and optimizing your energy consumption.

Measures for more efficiency in operations

Operating heating systems efficiently and minimising the energy consumption of buildings – for this purpose, the GEG amendment stipulates mandatory operation-optimising measures: e.g. regular testing and optimisation of heating systems as well as hydraulic balancing. With our pressure-independent valves and actuators, the hydraulic flow can be easily optimized. For efficient operation, we offer solution concepts that include measures for long-term energy savings in addition to implementation .

One step ahead of the future

The planned reform of the EPBD will once again introduce stricter climate protection measures, which will put additional pressure on the construction industry. This amendment must be transposed into national law within 24 months, in the German case by the GEG.

According to the current draft, the following changes are foreseen, among others:

From 2028, new buildings in functional buildings must be emission-free, with new public buildings being affected as early as 2026.
An increased use of solar energy in functional buildings, combined with the recording of values through energy data monitoring.
The limit for the retrofitting obligation of building automation and control systems in non-residential buildings will be reduced from 290 kW to 70 kW.
Equipping non-residential buildings with automatic lighting controls.
New standards to improve indoor climate quality in buildings through measures that guarantee good air quality, temperature control and humidity.

Solutions for efficient and sustainable energy supply and digital technologies are crucial to driving decarbonization in the building sector.

Andreas Schmuderer, Head of, Sustainability Business Smart Infrastructre