Half of people in Germany say their home is not ready for heatwaves – survey

Just over half of people in Germany do not believe their home is ready to deal with intensifying heatwaves, a survey by sustainable buildings think tank BPIE found. When asked if they believed their home was equipped to handle extreme heat, 51 percent of people in Germany said no – the second-highest share among the six countries surveyed.

The survey, developed alongside window and accessories manufacturer VELUX, collected the views of over 6,000 adults across Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, France and the UK. Participants were asked how their homes, schools, hospitals and offices affect their health, and what they want governments to do about it. 

The results showed that over half of workers across the six countries said that the indoor climate in their office strongly impacts their well-being. Meanwhile, 60 percent of respondents said that their home was not suited to handle cold weather, and 45 percent said the same about extreme heat. 

“The evidence clearly shows that for citizens, health and climate resilience are central expectations,” said BPIE head Oliver Rapf. Over half of respondents said that buildings should be subject to stricter design and maintenance rules to make them “healthier”. This includes ensuring adaptability to local climates, thermal comfort, accessibility, good air quality and adequate daylight, and sustainability across the lifecycle. 

Proposals from the European Union, such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Affordable Housing Plan, are aimed at addressing these concerns. The former requires the most energy-inefficient buildings to be renovated, while the latter aims to boost investments in social housing while combining affordability, sustainability and quality. 

New constructions and renovations in Germany are failing to sufficiently account for the growing effects of climate change, increasingly putting them at risk of overheating during summer months, a 2023 report by engineering firm Hauser (IBH) found. Meanwhile, a 2025 “heat check” by NGO Environmental Action Germany (DUH) found that over 12 million people across 190 cities live in high-heat areas, and are exposed to moderate or extreme heat stress. During cold spells, some 10 percent of the 30 million households in Germany that continue to rely on fossil heating systems are unable to adequately warm their homes or are "heavily burdened" by rising energy costs, according to the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).