Final energy demand

Final Energy Demand - Final energy demand is a metric from the energy performance certificate that indicates how much energy a building requires per year and per square meter for heating, hot water production, ventilation, and cooling. The unit is kilowatt-hours per square meter per year (kWh/(m²·a)). The final energy demand refers to the energy that actually “reaches” the building - that is, after deducting transmission losses in the distribution network, but before conversion within the building itself.

Final Energy Demand vs. Primary Energy Demand

The energy performance certificate lists two different metrics that are often confused:

Metric	Definition	Includes
Final energy demand	Energy at the building meter	Heating system, hot water, ventilation
Primary energy demand	Total energy including upstream costs	Extraction, transport, conversion of energy sources

The primary energy demand is always higher than the final energy demand, as it also includes the energy required to produce the energy source (e.g., natural gas extraction, electricity generation). The final energy demand is more relevant in practice for assessing ongoing energy costs.

Efficiency classes according to GEG 2023 (simplified):

• A+ : under 30 kWh/(m²·a)
• A : 30-50 kWh/(m²·a)
• B : 50-75 kWh/(m²·a)
• C : 75-100 kWh/(m²·a)
• D : 100-130 kWh/(m²·a)
• E-H: over 130 kWh/(m²·a)

Significance for Purchase, Sale, and Renovation

Final energy demand is relevant to the real estate industry for several reasons:

• Mandatory disclosure for sales and rentals: Since the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) and the Building Energy Act (GEG 2020) came into effect, the final energy demand must be stated in every real estate listing.
• Purchase price assessment: Energy-efficient buildings (classes A-B) command higher prices on the market; the final energy demand serves as an objective benchmark.
• Renovation planning: Anyone renovating should know the current final energy demand to measure the success of the renovation and apply for KfW/BAFA subsidies.
• Tenancy law: Actual energy consumption is decisive for utility bill settlements; the demand serves as a planning parameter.

Final energy demand and heating costs: Concrete implications for owners

Final energy demand is not just an abstract figure for sales listings-it has direct financial implications for monthly operating costs and long-term investment decisions. A calculation example illustrates this: A single-family home with 150 m² of living space and a final energy demand of 200 kWh/(m²·a) requires 30,000 kWh of heating energy annually. At a gas price of €0.12/kWh, this corresponds to annual heating costs of approximately €3,600. The same house, after a full renovation reducing consumption to 60 kWh/(m²·a), would consume 9,000 kWh and incur heating costs of approximately €1,080-an annual savings of around €2,500. With a renovation investment of €80,000, this results in a theoretical payback period of about 32 years-without taking into account rising energy prices and KfW/BAFA subsidies, which significantly shorten the payback period. For buyers and sellers in the Nuremberg metropolitan region, we recommend using the final energy demand as a basis for negotiation: A building in energy efficiency class F or G justifies a price reduction compared to comparable class B properties in the same location.

Practical Tip for Property Owners in Nuremberg and Franconia

In the Nuremberg metropolitan area, a significant portion of the housing stock was built between 1950 and 1980-buildings with a final energy demand often ranging from 180 to 250 kWh/(m²·a), corresponding to energy efficiency classes E through G. We recommend that owners of these homes at least consider an energy-efficient renovation before selling: Roof truss and facade insulation, as well as window replacement, can reduce final energy consumption by 30-50% and increase the achievable sale price in Nuremberg locations by 5-10%-which, depending on the size of the property, can easily amount to €20,000-40,000. The Bavarian Consumer Advice Center’s energy advisory service offers subsidized on-site consultations at its Nuremberg office (federal subsidy: 50% of consultation costs, max. €650). For renovation measures, the KfW Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings (BEG) and BAFA grants for individual measures are also available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the final energy demand the same as actual energy consumption?

No. The final energy demand is a calculated value determined under standard climate conditions and with standardized user behavior-regardless of how residents actually heat and ventilate their homes. Actual consumption depends on individual heating habits, the number of occupants, the local climate, and other factors, and can vary significantly. In practice, consumption is often lower than the calculated demand, as users heat more efficiently than the standard profile. A consumption-based energy performance certificate reflects actual user behavior and can perform better than the demand-based certificate, especially in well-maintained buildings.

Must the energy performance certificate be presented at the time of sale?

Yes. Since the GEG (formerly EnEV 2014), the seller is required to present a valid energy performance certificate to the buyer no later than at the time of the viewing and to provide a copy after the purchase contract is signed. Real estate listings must specify the efficiency class, final energy demand, energy source, and the year of construction of the heating system. If the energy performance certificate is missing or the required information is omitted from listings, fines of up to 15,000 euros may be imposed by the competent state authority (in Bavaria: district administrative authorities).

Which measures reduce final energy demand the most?

The most effective measures are: insulating the building envelope (facade, roof, basement-savings of 20-40%), replacing outdated heating systems with heat pumps or pellet boilers (savings of 30-60% depending on the initial situation), replacing leaky windows with triple-pane windows (savings of 10-20%), and installing a controlled residential ventilation system with heat recovery (savings of 15-25% of ventilation heat loss). To maximize funding under the KfW BEG, we recommend having all measures supervised by an energy efficiency expert (EEE)-only then can grants of up to 70% of eligible costs be obtained.

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