Insights 07.02.2025
Decarbonization of Real Estate: A strategic imperative for investors?
Jasmin Eckert

Climate Protection Goals in the building sector: A 6.5-fold acceleration required
The latest biennial assessment from the Expert Council on Climate Issues (German) reveals a sobering situation: the building sector continues to fall short of its climate protection targets. While greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 2.6% between 2021 and 2023—from 116.2 to 113.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent—this reduction is far from sufficient to meet the ambitious 2030 climate goals.
The analysis presents a clear imperative for action: to achieve the climate target of 65% reduction by 2030, the reduction rate would need to increase from the current -1.3 to -8.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. This represents a 6.5-fold acceleration of decarbonization efforts!
What does this mean for real estate investors?
Investors face a strategic crossroads: transform or risk value depreciation. The figures clearly demonstrate that existing properties without fundamental energy modernization could become high-risk investments. However, this challenge simultaneously presents a unique opportunity for value creation and risk minimization.
While politicians and traditional real estate companies are often too slow to react, we show that innovative technologies already offer feasible solutions to drive forward the heating transition.
Sascha Müller, CEO PAUL Tech AG
Strategic advantages for investors
This is where PAUL Net Zero comes in – not as a marketing tool, but as a strategic response to the complex challenges of the real estate market. The technology combines ecological necessity with economic rationality. The decarbonization of buildings is more than just a compliance requirement; it is a key to value appreciation. Through targeted technological interventions, energy efficiency ratings can be significantly improved and operating costs sustainably reduced.
Technology as a solution
Our AI-powered solution enables precise transformation: heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, and intelligent control systems are merged into a holistic concept. The result after installation is real estate that not only meets stringent climate protection requirements but is also economically optimized.
Decarbonization must be seen as a strategic competitive advantage. Sitting out the heat transition targets is no longer an option. We offer property owners and investors the opportunity to act proactively and at the same time benefit from the advantages of modern, CO₂-reducing technologies.
Sascha Müller, CEO PAUL Tech AG
The following facts highlight the potential: Just one month after commissioning one of our pilot projects in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), we recorded a significant efficiency improvement:
- The flow temperature was reduced from 70°C to 53°C
- the property's energy efficiency rating was substantially improved from E to A