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Private households in Germany emit less CO₂ than they did 20 years ago.
Photo: Gaby Wojciech / Westend61 / imago images
Private households in Germany have emitted less carbon dioxide in recent years.
The emissions of the climate-damaging gas in the residential sector fell by 14 percent between 2000 and 2019, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
This means that the value is currently 219 million tons of CO₂.
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Climate-friendly heating systems are one reason for the decline in Co2 emissions: According to the Federal Statistical Office, oil is now used less often, and gas and district heating systems with lower emissions are used instead.
According to the calculations, 68 percent of the CO₂ emissions in households is due to the heating of living spaces.
At 148 million tons of carbon dioxide, the absolute amount in 2019 was 15 percent below the value in 2000.
Electricity consumption is increasing again, but more electricity is green
Electricity generation has also become lower in emissions, among other things because renewable energies are playing an increasingly important role.
Energy consumption itself has also decreased, but only if you consider the span of two decades: In 2019, private households used around six percent less energy in the residential sector than in 2000. The lowest value was reached in 2012, the lowest value since After a few years, consumption will rise again - and with it the emissions.
However, electricity is also saved in some areas in the living area: when operating electrical devices, the decrease was 19 percent, and lighting was even 37 percent.
Overall, however, lighting only accounts for two percent of total emissions for living, while the power consumption of electrical appliances is responsible for eleven percent of CO2 emissions.
The CO2 emissions determined by the Federal Statistical Office are direct and indirect emissions.
Direct emissions arise, for example, from the combustion of energy sources in a gas heating system in the household; indirect emissions arise from the generation of energy that is consumed in the household, for example in power plants.
Households show willingness to save
Apparently, many have now recognized the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: In a survey by the KfW development bank, 92 percent of households said that they consider the abandonment of fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas and coal to be important or very important.
Around a quarter of households are now using at least one alternative, relatively low-emission technology, such as a photovoltaic system, wood pellet heating or an electric car.
However, the survey also shows that climate-friendly technologies are still primarily used by higher-income households.
vki / dpa
