The extent to which households are affected by rising energy costs and the consequences of the energy transition also depends on the condition of their home. A recent KfW analysis shows that households with high energy consumption, in particular, face major challenges. But where in Germany are the most energy-efficient properties to be found? The solid-build home builder Town & Country Haus (https://www.tc.de/) has analysed over 7,000 properties in Germany’s 30 largest cities to determine where the most energy-efficient homes are located, broken down by energy efficiency class and the main energy sources. The result: across Germany, most houses fall into efficiency class H. Bonn has the highest proportion of houses with poor energy efficiency.
Disclaimer: The difference between energy performance certificates based on energy demand and those based on energy consumption lies in how the data is generated. Whilst energy demand represents an estimated or calculated amount of energy, energy consumption is actually measured.
Most German houses fall into the least efficient categories
Of all the properties surveyed, the majority of buildings in the country fall into energy efficiency class H (15.8 per cent). This is the lowest category, indicating extremely high energy consumption and suggesting that the building is in a poor state of energy efficiency. Next in the ranking are classes D (12.9 per cent), F (12.8 per cent), E (11.7 per cent) and G (11 per cent). This means that the least energy-efficient classes are the most common.
This becomes even clearer when looking at energy performance certificates: over 20 per cent of certificates classify buildings as Class H. Bonn stands out in particular here, with a share of 43.7 per cent, followed by Aachen with exactly 40 per cent and Münster with 36.1 per cent. Classes G and F are also common, predominantly in Aachen and Wuppertal (35 and 34.7 per cent respectively). The most energy-efficient buildings, on the other hand, are found in Mönchengladbach and Dresden. According to the energy performance certificates, 55.5 per cent of buildings in Mönchengladbach are in Class A, whilst in the Saxon capital, as many as 56.4 per cent are in Class A+.
Energy performance certificates reflect the actual energy consumption of recent years, which is influenced by individual heating habits. They therefore paint a different picture: 24.5 per cent of buildings fall into the most common category, D. This means that, in theory, they consume at least 100 Wh/m² less energy per year than buildings in class H. Categories A and A+, on the other hand, are less common. In terms of actual energy consumption, Wiesbaden and Mannheim top the ranking with 15.6 per cent and 44.7 per cent respectively.
This is how Germany will heat its homes in 2026
Natural gas remains the clear frontrunner: 62.3 per cent of the properties surveyed are predominantly heated by gas. A look at the energy performance certificates reveals a marked difference between calculated energy requirements and actual consumption: whilst 37.8 per cent are based on the calculated energy requirements, 24.4 per cent are based on actual measured consumption. Crude oil follows in second place with 16.6 per cent; it, too, is reported more frequently in demand certificates (11.7 per cent) than in consumption certificates (4.9 per cent). Electricity is the third most common energy source, accounting for 7.5 per cent in total, and also leads the way in demand certificates (5.6 per cent). In energy consumption certificates, however, district heating ranks third with 2.8 per cent. Heat pumps have so far played a significantly smaller role, accounting for a total share of 3.7 per cent.
“Our analysis makes it clear that Germany still has a great deal of work to do when it comes to its existing building stock. At the same time, a comparison of energy requirements and actual consumption shows that the calculated requirements are often higher than what is actually consumed. It is therefore important to consider actual consumption figures alongside theoretical calculations if we are to assess the energy performance of properties. With new-builds, on the other hand, we have the opportunity to factor in energy efficiency from the outset, rather than having to carry out costly retrofits later on. This is precisely why energy-efficient construction today is not a ‘nice-to-have’, but a requirement for a sustainable home,” says Benjamin Dawo of Town & Country Haus.
In its study
, Town & Country Haus analysed 7,493 properties listed on immowelt in August 2026 across the 30 largest cities, categorising them by energy efficiency class and primary energy sources. For the subsequent analysis of the energy performance certificates, a distinction was made between energy demand and energy consumption.
