Building automation in Germany is in a phase of consolidation and professionalization in mid-2026. Driven by stricter energy efficiency requirements and increasing demands on non-residential buildings, operators are upgrading – while traditional electrical contractors must expand their service offerings.
Regulation: GEG and EU Directives Set Impulses
The Building Energy Act (GEG) in its current version increasingly requires automated controls in non-residential buildings. From 2025, stricter requirements for heating and air conditioning technology will apply, which are hardly economically feasible without KNX bus systems or comparable systems. At the same time, EU regulations on the Buildings Directive (EPBD) are driving digitalization: smart meters are becoming mandatory, energy management systems are moving into focus.
DIN EN ISO 52120 on building automation was revised in 2023 and has been the reference standard for energy efficiency certificates since early 2024. Planners and installers must now document system functions more precisely and incorporate them into energy certificates – a bureaucratic effort that, however, fuels demand for standardized systems.
Manufacturer Activities: Portfolio Expansions and Ecosystem Strategy
Busch-Jaeger has expanded its KNX product lines in recent months and is increasingly focusing on retrofit solutions for existing buildings. The company is positioning itself with wireless components and hybrid systems specifically in the segment between traditional electrical installation and complete building automation. At the same time, the manufacturer is restructuring its portfolio to offer planners and installers clearer product lines – a strategic step intended to simplify system selection.
Hager Group is advancing the integration of meter cabinet components into building automation systems. The company group is expanding its univers-Z range with smart interfaces that supply energy data directly to higher-level systems. This is how Hager is responding to growing demand for transparency and efficiency in commercial real estate. The new components make retrofitting existing systems easier.
Schneider Electric is focusing on the integration of building automation and energy storage systems. The corporation is expanding its cloud platforms and increasingly offering operators SaaS models for energy management and predictive maintenance. This development reflects the trend toward subscription models, which is also reaching the B2B segment.
Market Dynamics: Large Projects vs. Existing Building Renovation
Demand for building automation is concentrated in two segments: new construction projects in commercial building and energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings. While KNX-based systems are standard in new construction, skepticism about investment costs still dominates the retrofit market. Manufacturers who offer wireless solutions and modular entry-level systems score points here – Busch-Jaeger, for example, specifically promotes its wireless components for retrofitting.
Electrical contractors report increasing demand for integrated solutions that link lighting, shading, heating, and ventilation. The challenge, however, often lies in planning: many contractors lack sufficiently trained personnel for complex KNX installations. Manufacturers are responding with expanded training offerings and simplified planning tools.
Outlook: Integration and Data Sovereignty as Key Issues
The coming months will show how the tension between proprietary cloud platforms and open standards like KNX develops. Operators increasingly value data sovereignty and interoperability – an argument that strengthens open systems. At the same time, manufacturers are attracting with comfort functions and remote-manageable solutions that are only possible in closed ecosystems.
For electrical contractors, this means: continuing education and strategic partnerships with manufacturers will be crucial to remain competitive in the growing building automation market. Regulation creates demand – implementation is in the hands of the installers.