Germany: German families embrace traditional building renovation with more sustainable technologies.

Shotlist Munich, Germany - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of residential buildings, solar panels on roof 2. Flowers 3. Various of air conditioner, outdoor air-conditioning unit, energy label 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Gillinski, resident (partially overlaid with shots 5-6): "We did it because we feel like the climate is getting hotter and we wanted just quality of life. I think we were thinking really long term when we bought this house and we were willing to spend the money, a little bit more upfront, and in return be able to save money in the long run. Especially with the crazy situation in the world right now." ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 5. Various of interview in progress, Jessica talking while making hand gestures 6. Various of house, vehicle ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 7. Various of residential buildings, solar panels on buildings 8. Various of heating pump 9. Various of Jessica talking with reporter; touchscreen on device 10. Lars Kraus, CEO and Co-Founder of Greengineers, greeting reporter; sign of Greengineers 11. SOUNDBITE (German) Lars Kraus, CEO and Co-Founder, Greengineers (starting with shot 10/partially overlaid with shots 12-13): "If we focus on cooling, we see huge advantages for single-family homes, specifically those where the roof area is well-suited for a photovoltaic system. The reason is that when the sun is out and solar gain is at its peak, we have exactly enough electricity to run a cooling system. In many buildings, cooling in the summer could be perfectly powered by electricity from the PV system. These savings usually fall in the double-digit percentage range." ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 12. Various of staff working, talking with Lars Kraus 13. Computer screen ++SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++ 14. Various of residential buildings, solar panels on buildings, 15. Various of residential buildings, green roofs 16. Various of outdoor air-conditioning units 17. Pedestrians Storyline Built from local timber to withstand harsh Alpine winters, southern Germany's iconic chalets are now topped with solar panels to cope with hotter summers. As temperatures rise, climate-resilient housing is becoming a key part of how Germany adapts to the challenges of climate change. According to Germany's Federal Statistical Office, roughly 75–85 percent of new homes completed in 2025 incorporated at least one major climate-related technology, such as solar panels and heat pumps. Jessica Gillinski was one such homeowner. She and her husband insisted on incorporating climate solutions in the new house they built. "We did it because we feel like the climate is getting hotter and we wanted just quality of life. I think we were thinking really long term when we bought this house and we were willing to spend the money, a little bit more upfront, and in return be able to save money in the long run. Especially with the crazy situation in the world right now," said Jessica Gillinski, a resident. Like Jessica's home, fully electric houses have much less exposure to rising gas prices than gas-heated homes. Heating pumps are up to three to four times more efficient than traditional electric resistance heaters helping to keep operating costs competitive. With Germany's state-owned development bank providing subsidies of up to 70 percent towards heat pumps, they are gaining popularity fast, keeping companies specialized in sustainable construction, such as Greengineers, very busy. "If we focus on cooling, we see huge advantages for single-family homes, specifically those where the roof area is well-suited for a photovoltaic system. The reason is that when the sun is out and solar gain is at its peak, we have exactly enough electricity to run a cooling system. In many buildings, cooling in the summer could be perfectly powered by electricity from the PV system. These savings usually fall in the double-digit percentage range," said Lars Kraus, CEO and Co-Founder of Greengineers. Solar installations in Germany are growing by around 15 to 20 percent a year, with millions of households now generating their own power from rooftop panels. Green roofs, shading systems and other cooling technologies are also becoming increasingly common as residents adapt to hotter summers and rising energy costs, without sacrificing traditional design.