Focus on energy efficiency: GEG 2024 calls for more intelligent buildings through smart building technologies

The new German Building Energy Act (GEG 2024), which came into force on January 1, 2024, brings significant changes and stricter guidelines for building automation. With the aim of drastically increasing energy efficiency, the EU is setting clear targets: CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. GEG 2024 serves as the national implementation of these directives, shaping the requirements for building automation in non-residential buildings (NRBs) in Germany.

Energy efficiency and building automation: core elements of the new regulation

The new regulations focus on the energy efficiency of NRBs, especially regarding heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems. These must now be monitored regularly in order to assess their actual energy efficiency. Systems with an output of more than 290 kW must be equipped with appropriate building automation systems by the end of 2024. The installation of self-regulating devices for individual room temperature control will then also be mandatory.

With the GEG 2024, building automation is becoming increasingly important in the context of the smart building concept. It is seen as the key to energy-efficient, economical and safe operation that also reduces the workload of operating personnel. The requirements for existing and new NRBs are clearly defined:

• Existing NRBs with an energy consumption of 290 kW or more must be equipped with a minimum level of automation by the end of 2024.
• Existing systems must demonstrate their cross-manufacturer communication capability.
• New NRBs must meet the requirements of automation level B for heating and cooling systems in accordance with DIN V 18599-11, which includes automatic individual room control for temperature, humidity and CO2 content of the room air.
• Standardized protocols such as the EnOcean wireless standard are required to enable cross-system and manufacturer-independent coupling between all systems and applications.

Smart building technologies as a key to energy efficiency

The international EnOcean wireless standard, optimized for low energy consumption and energy harvesting, provides an efficient basis for this. Wireless sensors enable targeted, flexible and cost-effective installation in the long term, which increases the energy efficiency of the entire building.

Sensor Data: The backbone of intelligent buildings

The focus of GEG 2024 underscores the necessity of making buildings smarter and more energy efficient. Sensor data plays a crucial role by providing relevant information in real-time to IoT systems. The use of open protocols as well as flexibility and relocatability of sensors are emphasized as key criteria on the path to sustainably intelligent buildings.

The GEG 2024-compliant “smartification” of non-residential buildings is facilitated by the use of wireless sensor solutions like those from EnOcean. These enable efficient recording of a wide range of measurements for holistic energy optimization, paving the way for maximum energy efficiency under the new regulations.