22 E. GREALIS ET AL.
introDuCtion
Germany has committed to a number of targets in order to achieve a
successful Energiewende (energy turn), the transition to a sustainable energy
system. These include 60% of total energy demand being supplied from
renewable resources and a total greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction target of 80–95% of 1990 levels by 2050 (BMWi 2015). While the
country has recently made progress in some areas, particularly with the
deployment of renewable energy capacity in the electricity sector, current forecasts suggest that Germany will miss its interim GHG emissions
target of a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. Instead, the Federal
Ministry projects a reduction of 32% over the same period. Additionally,
recent policy commitments to a faster phasing out of nuclear power have
limited nuclear’s capacity as a non-carbon-intensive ‘bridging technology’
(albeit one that presents other sustainability risks) until such time when
technological and infrastructural solutions are in place to ensure the stability of supply with large-scale renewable deployment. In order to achieve its
stated emissions targets, Germany must reduce annual GHG emissions at
a consistent rate of 3.5% per annum on current levels for the next 30 years.
Considering that the 30-year historical average is a reduction of 1.2%, and
the 10-year average just 0.8%, this presents a significant challenge (EEA
2019), which must be addressed by several sectors, including households.
soCio-materiaL DynamiCs of househoLD
energy use in germany
Households account for approximately a quarter of total energy demand
in Germany, ranking third behind the industrial (47%) and services sectors (26%) in 2017 (BDEW 2018). Total residential energy demand is
dominated by space (68%) and water (14%) heating requirements, with
the remaining energy use accounted for by lighting and appliances
(8%), cooking (6%) and other uses (4%) (Eurostat 2018a). Household
energy consumption is still dominated by fossil fuels, including oil- and
gas-fired heating systems (gas 37%, oil 22%), with electricity (21% 1 ),
1 of 20.8%, 12.9% was generated from fossil fuels sources in 2017 with the remaining
7.9% generated from renewable sources (Fraunhofer Institute 2018).
introDuCtion
Germany has committed to a number of targets in order to achieve a
successful Energiewende (energy turn), the transition to a sustainable energy
system. These include 60% of total energy demand being supplied from
renewable resources and a total greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction target of 80–95% of 1990 levels by 2050 (BMWi 2015). While the
country has recently made progress in some areas, particularly with the
deployment of renewable energy capacity in the electricity sector, current forecasts suggest that Germany will miss its interim GHG emissions
target of a 40% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020. Instead, the Federal
Ministry projects a reduction of 32% over the same period. Additionally,
recent policy commitments to a faster phasing out of nuclear power have
limited nuclear’s capacity as a non-carbon-intensive ‘bridging technology’
(albeit one that presents other sustainability risks) until such time when
technological and infrastructural solutions are in place to ensure the stability of supply with large-scale renewable deployment. In order to achieve its
stated emissions targets, Germany must reduce annual GHG emissions at
a consistent rate of 3.5% per annum on current levels for the next 30 years.
Considering that the 30-year historical average is a reduction of 1.2%, and
the 10-year average just 0.8%, this presents a significant challenge (EEA
2019), which must be addressed by several sectors, including households.
soCio-materiaL DynamiCs of househoLD
energy use in germany
Households account for approximately a quarter of total energy demand
in Germany, ranking third behind the industrial (47%) and services sectors (26%) in 2017 (BDEW 2018). Total residential energy demand is
dominated by space (68%) and water (14%) heating requirements, with
the remaining energy use accounted for by lighting and appliances
(8%), cooking (6%) and other uses (4%) (Eurostat 2018a). Household
energy consumption is still dominated by fossil fuels, including oil- and
gas-fired heating systems (gas 37%, oil 22%), with electricity (21% 1 ),
1 of 20.8%, 12.9% was generated from fossil fuels sources in 2017 with the remaining
7.9% generated from renewable sources (Fraunhofer Institute 2018).