Survey shows: Homeowners want more choice and more options to reduce CO₂

• Decarbonising the gas grid in line with district heating and electricity enjoys broad support among homeowners.
• No narrow focus on heating systems: all CO₂-saving measures should be recognised.
• Kehler: “A heating law must not become a technology law. What matters is less CO₂ — not which system is in the basement.”

A clear majority of homeowners in Germany want greater personal responsibility and fewer detailed state requirements when it comes to the energy-efficient modernisation of their buildings. This is the finding of a representative survey conducted by the opinion research institute Civey on behalf of the German Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association.

65.1 percent of homeowners surveyed support making modernisation decisions independently rather than being required to follow a rigid legal framework. At the same time, it is clear that climate protection itself is not being questioned — rather, it is the narrow regulatory logic of the Building Energy Act.

Majority supports CO₂ reduction targets instead of technology mandates

57.9 percent of homeowners favour legislation in which modernisation measures at building level are considered in the overall balance and credited accordingly — such as insulation, new windows or heating upgrades.

This means that a majority supports a technology-neutral approach that assesses emissions across the entire building rather than prescribing individual heating technologies. For Dr Timm Kehler, CEO of the German Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association, the message is clear: “People want climate protection, but they need effective solutions instead of rigid requirements. A heating law must not become a technology law. What matters is that building emissions fall — not which system is installed in the basement.”

Broad support for climate-neutral gases

There is also a clear majority in favour of the use of climate-neutral gases: 65.9 percent of respondents support mandatory supply of renewable gases by utilities so that existing heating systems can be operated in a climate-neutral way. A gradually increasing quota for climate-neutral gases would make the transformation pathway of gas networks transparent. It would also clearly assign responsibility for decarbonising the gas grid to suppliers — similar to existing requirements in the electricity and district heating sectors.

Affordability more important than speed

The results are particularly clear regarding priorities for the energy transition: 68.2 percent of homeowners consider affordability more important than achieving the fastest possible pace of implementation. For Dr Timm Kehler, the findings show: “For most people, replacing a heating system is a major investment. Speed and stringent requirements do not create acceptance. The heating transition will only succeed if those who have to implement it can also afford it.”

According to the association, the results argue in favour of a more target-oriented legal framework for the building sector, with emissions reduction as the benchmark and technology neutrality as the implementation pathway. The German Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association therefore proposed an equivalence-based approach as early as November last year, under which different measures can contribute towards achieving CO₂ targets.

Civey surveyed 2,500 homeowners in Germany online between 11 and 18 February 2026. The full survey results can be found here. The results are representative, with a statistical margin of error of 3.8 percentage points. Further information on the methodology can be found here.