Homeowners with renovation experience as the key to the heating transition
The Efficient Citizens project promotes the exchange of experience between homeowners who are experienced and interested in renovation in order to reduce uncertainties and promote motivation to implement energy-efficient renovation measures.
24.07.2024 – In order to reduce the CO2reductions by 2030, significant greenhouse gas reductions in the building stock are required. According to the Federal Association of Energy-Efficient Building Envelopes (BuVEG), the current renovation rate of 0.72 percent must be significantly increased for this.
However, many, especially older homeowners, have uncertainties and reservations, especially with regard to the cost-benefit ratio and possible risks of energy-efficient renovations. Often, information is only obtained in the event of damage, which leads to suboptimal decisions such as the reinstallation of gas heating systems.
Project Efficient Citizens: Professional exchange at eye level
The Efficient Citizens project, funded by the BMWK, investigates what information homeowners lack and how it can be better disseminated in order to provide them with targeted support for energy-efficient renovations. In this citizen science project, researchers from inter 3 are working together with citizen scientists and the project partner co2online.
The aim of the project was to work with homeowners to develop ways in which steps for energy-efficient renovation can be organised jointly. It was investigated whether and under what conditions a peer-to-peer exchange of experience between homeowners experienced in renovation and those interested in renovation can reduce uncertainties and carry out preparatory work for renovation steps.
Renovation ambassadors in action
Renovation ambassadors, who have already carried out renovations on their own houses, played a double role in the project. As citizen scientists, they worked on the collection and evaluation of data on the knowledge and concerns of those interested in renovation and helped to further develop the exchange of experiences. In addition, they shared their own experiences and did educational work.
Procedure and results of the exchange of experience
A total of about 100 people interested in renovation and renovation ambassadors were won over to participate. The assignment of the participants required an intensive matching process in order to ensure the planned exchange of experiences at eye level. On-site visits were matched regionally and in terms of content according to experiences and interests. The visits lasted 90-120 minutes each, with those interested in renovation having energy cost statements for the last three years ready in advance.
More than three-quarters of those interested in renovation said they wanted to benefit from the experience of the renovation ambassadors. Two-thirds needed concrete tips for renovation and half sought access to up-to-date information. Only eight percent hoped for faster appointments for an energy consultation and five percent used the project to deal more intensively with the topic.