EnEV

EnEV, short for Energieeinsparverordnung, is the German Energy Saving Ordinance. It regulates energy efficiency in buildings by setting standards for the construction and refurbishment of properties to reduce energy consumption for heating, cooling, and hot water.

The ordinance applies to new buildings and major renovations and covers the building envelope (insulation, windows, thermal bridging), technical systems (heating, ventilation, hot water), and the calculation of a building’s overall energy performance. It aims to improve energy efficiency through mandatory design targets and performance criteria that builders and owners must meet.

An energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) is required for construction, sale, and rental of buildings. The certificate documents a building’s estimated or actual energy usage and assigns a rating on a scale from very efficient to inefficient. Two types exist: Bedarfsausweis (needs-based) and Verbrauchsausweis (consumption-based). The certificate provides information for prospective buyers or tenants and for informing retrofit decisions.

EnEV has a historical role in Germany’s building regulation regime. It was introduced in 2002 and revised several times to tighten standards. In 2020, EnEV was incorporated into the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG), a consolidated framework that also includes the EnEG (Building Energy Act) and the EEWärmeG (Renewable Energy Heat Act). The GEG continues to govern building energy efficiency, maintaining EnEV’s objectives within a unified regulation.

Enforcement lies with competent authorities at federal and state levels, with compliance verifiable through inspections and the energy certificate process.