Techem survey: Residents still reluctant to heat their homes

Eschborn, November 07, 2023 – Many people in Germany probably remember this year’s October as unusually wet and mild. According to the German Weather Service, the month even ranked among the five warmest Octobers since measurements began in 1881. As a result, more than a third of residents (37%) kept their heating turned off until the end of the month. These are the findings of a recent survey by the energy service provider Techem.

For three quarters of those surveyed, it was still not cool enough, but the radiators in many homes remained cold for reasons of climate protection (24%) and fear of high additional payments (23%). Those who use gas heating (27%) are more likely to be financially worried than those whose homes are heated by another energy source (20%).

Image information: For many residents, the heating has remained off until now  (Copyright: Techem).

If heating was used, it was mainly in the living room (86%), and many also like more comfortable temperatures in the bathroom (52%). Heating is mainly used in the evening (84%), while most residents (76%) turn the heating down manually during the day before leaving the house or apartment. People who work from home heat their homes significantly more often (29%) than the average (20%).

Looking ahead to the upcoming winter, it is clear that the energy crisis and concerns about higher costs are once again motivating many people to adopt energy-saving heating and ventilation habits (71%). Cost savings are important for three quarters of people, while a healthier indoor climate (29 percent) and preventing mold (40 percent) motivate many people to regulate the room temperature more consciously.

About Techem 

Techem is a leading service provider for smart and sustainable buildings. The company's services cover energy management and resource conservation, residential health and process efficiency in real estate. Founded in 1952, the company is now active in 18 countries with around 4,300 employees and services more than 13 million homes. Techem offers efficiency improvements along the entire value chain of heat and water in real estate. As the market leader in remote radio detection of energy consumption in homes, Techem continues to drive networking and digital processes in real estate. Modern radio smoke detectors with remote inspection and services related to improving drinking water quality in properties complement the solution portfolio for the housing industry. For more information, visit www.techem.com/corp/en.