Happy winners of the 2025 Climate Savers Award, Sven Bohnert, Fabio Birk, Tino Birk (from left). (Photo: © Verlagsanstalt Handwerk GmbH)
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August 4, 2026
Tradespeople are implementing environmental measures not only for their customers, but also within their own businesses. Here's what companies are doing in practice – and why it's worthwhile.
Moving away from oil and gas, towards complete electrification : Elektro Birk has been working on this for 15 years – with success. The company in Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, saves around €100.000 every year as a result, estimates Sven Bohnert , Head of the Solar Technology, Storage Systems and E-Mobility division.
How did Elektro Birk achieve these savings? " All energy sources in the company are renewable ," says Bohnert. The company started with an extension in 2011. "At that time, we decided to consistently electrify our own infrastructure." Today, photovoltaic systems with over 200 kilowatts peak capacity cover all roof surfaces . Battery storage buffers the electricity and reliably supplies the company – for example, the air-to-air heat pumps that heat in winter and cool in summer. Fifty charging points are available for company cars, and 95 percent of the fleet is electric . The company saves around €30.000 annually on e-mobility alone, says Bohnert.
What did it cost? The infrastructure investments amounted to between 300.000 and 400.000 euros , reports the master electrician – and puts the sum into perspective: "The investments would have been necessary anyway, regardless of whether it was for fossil fuels or electrification." He considers an amortization calculation to be the wrong approach in this matter: "No one talks about the amortization of a combustion engine. But as soon as something is labeled 'electric,' everyone starts philosophizing about when it will pay off."
"Businesses favor measures that allow them to reduce costs," confirms Marcel Quinten of the Saarland Chamber of Skilled Crafts . Quinten heads the energy, environmental, and sustainability consulting department. He is convinced: "Business owners desire economic stability and future security – ultimately, this is nothing other than entrepreneurial sustainability."
Operations management
Craft policy
Operations management
But it's not just the costs that speak in favor of climate protection. Sustainability also has an external impact, Quinten knows: " Younger generations in particular are paying closer attention to how a company is structured ." This applies to customers and skilled workers.
Sustainability criteria are gaining importance in public tenders and also in supply chains, according to Quinten. Some suppliers are already receiving questionnaires from major clients requesting sustainability data . Sustainability aspects are also playing an increasingly important role in lending. Some banks are already incorporating sustainability criteria into their corporate client ratings. "Those who can demonstrate sustainable business practices can improve their rating and, in some cases, benefit from more favorable loan terms," Quinten reports.
The advantages extend beyond the cost savings, confirms Sven Bohnert. For the company, self-sufficiency – independence from volatile energy markets and fluctuating prices – is also crucial . At the same time, these measures serve as a showcase and proof of competence. "We don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk." Customers entering the premises for the first time are "astonished," says the master electrician. "They see how we live it and are then convinced that the concept works."
Elektro Birk also benefits as an employer: employees see that their company is at the forefront of all developments. "Our team is just as enthusiastic as we are," says Bohnert. This fosters employee loyalty and helps attract new talent. Last but not least, the company also impressed the jury of the Climate Saver Award for Crafts in 2025. With this award, the German trade journal for crafts and the workwear manufacturer Fristads recognizes sustainable craft businesses that serve as role models.
But energy savings aren't the only thing that matters in the trades. Elektro Birk also prioritizes sustainability when purchasing materials : Where possible, the company uses products from German manufacturers that can be repaired. "We don't want a throwaway mentality with cheap imported products," says Sven Bohnert. The company also prefers German suppliers for small parts – ideally those who provide reusable nets instead of single-use packaging.
The company is not alone in this: Besides energy consumption, material efficiency and waste management are important issues in the skilled trades, reports Frederic-Johann Ferber from the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts . This also includes the sorting, collection, and recycling of residual materials, explains the head of the Center for Environment, Energy, and Climate. "The effect is immediately visible in the disposal costs."
How far the skilled trades sector has progressed is shown by a survey conducted by the Chamber of Skilled Crafts at the end of 2025 among more than a thousand businesses: Around 17 percent have already designed their processes according to circular economy principles , and almost 28 percent have done so in certain areas. A further 15 percent have concrete ideas or are interested. "That's a considerable foundation, but it also shows that the topic has not yet played a role for around 40 percent of businesses," says Ferber.
Many underestimate the importance of the circular economy. " Especially in the construction industry, theoretically large quantities of waste could be avoided if companies focused more intensively on the non-destructive dismantling and reuse of building components and materials, " emphasizes Ferber. However, according to the survey, only 13,3 percent of companies consider this to be of great importance.
This isn't solely due to a lack of time and personnel in businesses. External factors are also a hindrance, as the survey shows: Inadequate political and economic frameworks hinder investment, compounded by legal and bureaucratic hurdles . Last but not least, solutions from industry are lacking, such as for repairable or recyclable components and take-back systems. "The skilled trades can only operate in a circular economy to the extent that the products they process allow," Ferber emphasizes.
Where companies have the freedom to shape their own practices, many are already further ahead – both in large and small ways. "Some things are almost so normal that you don't even think about them anymore – from fair trade coffee in the office to printer paper with the Green Dot symbol to the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products ," says Sven Börjesson from the Leipzig Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
And on a larger scale? "Investments usually involve several aspects that influence the decision to implement a measure – companies are very aware of this," says the head of the Environmental and Transfer Center in Leipzig . For example, companies acquire new machines not only because of their lower energy consumption, but "also because they enable the production of more products, improve working conditions, and allow for more economical use of materials."
Another example, according to Börjesson, is the increasing number of hot days: Air conditioning often helps in overheated offices and halls. However, there are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways to reduce heat gain:
Insulation protects against heat and reduces energy consumption in winter.
– PV modules, arranged at an angle on the facade, shade the windows and generate electricity – this reduces operating costs and CO₂ emissions.
– Grass pavers instead of asphalt: Replacing the asphalt parking lot in front of the office with grass pavers, grass, trees, and shrubs reduces the reflected heat radiation onto the building. Side effects include lower sewage fees, reduced risk from heavy rain, and "a higher quality of stay during breaks outdoors," according to Börjesson.
Thinking in terms of cycles also pays off, and not just with materials. Börjesson cites waste heat from compressed air compressors, extraction systems, cooling units, boilers, or furnaces as an example : More and more companies are using this energy source to save on heating costs through heat recovery.
So many possibilities – where should businesses begin? " The first step is always to take stock ," says Frederic-Johann Ferber from the Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts: "What are my energy and material consumption levels, where is waste generated, where are the biggest cost centers?" This will determine their own priorities.
The second step is to think in investment cycles . "If a machine, vehicle, or heating system is due for replacement anyway, the efficient option should be chosen, often with available subsidies." The third step involves companies engaging their employees. "The best ideas for savings come from the workshop itself," says Ferber.
One hurdle remains: "The bottleneck in the trades is rarely money, but time," Ferber knows. The main obstacle is the initial effort: getting an overview of one's own consumption and prioritizing the right measures. "That's precisely what consulting services are for. Once implemented, the ongoing effort for most measures is minimal," says Ferber.
Help is primarily offered by trade associations . The Chambers of Skilled Crafts provide advice, in particular, on business models, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and funding opportunities. Trade associations, as well as organizations and programs at the state and local levels, also offer support.
The advisors at the Chambers of Skilled Crafts also help with financing: "There are grants or low-interest loans available for many things – from the federal government, the state, or even regionally," reports Sven Börjesson from the Leipzig Chamber of Skilled Crafts. One obstacle: The information and guidelines from the funding institutions are often difficult to understand. "Sometimes you need an intermediary, and that's where we help," says Börjesson.
Energy is often the greatest lever Many businesses initially focus on measures that are simple, inexpensive, and quick to implement. Often, the greatest savings can be achieved in energy costs:
LED lighting: A switch to LEDs sometimes pays for itself after three or four years – sometimes even faster, according to Quinten.
Central switch: They prevent standby losses by centrally switching off machines in the evening.
Compressed air optimization: When using compressed air, 90 percent of the energy used is lost as heat, says Quinten. Eliminating leaky couplings, other leaks, and standby losses saves a lot of money. "Such leaks can easily result in unnecessary energy costs in the four-figure range each year," explains the consultant.
Photovoltaic: Photovoltaic systems often pay for themselves in seven to ten years – with a lifespan of 30 years or more. "If I own a company building with a load-bearing, unshaded roof, it absolutely must have a PV system," says Quinten. "I would be missing out on significant economic potential if I didn't." Even those planning to hand over the business soon will increase the property value with such a system. A battery storage system can often further increase self-consumption – however, whether storage is economically worthwhile needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Electromobility: Electric vehicles are particularly worthwhile for businesses with a regional operating area and daily distances of up to around 150 kilometers, according to Quinten – especially if the vehicles are charged with their own solar power. The transport and towing capacities of the new models are now also sufficient for many trades.
Optimized heat transfer: Replacing warm air heating systems with radiant heating systems such as dark radiators or underfloor heating allows for significantly more efficient heat transfer.
Heat pumps: Those constructing new commercial buildings today are increasingly relying on heat pumps. This technology is also being chosen more and more frequently for existing buildings, during renovations, or when installing a new heating system.
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