Taking an Integrated Approach to Building and Energy Technology
In Halls A1, A4, B2, B5, B7 and part of Hall B6, visitors can experience how connected and intelligent building technology works today and how it will evolve in the future. Numerous exhibitors, including ABB, JUNG, Eltako, Gira, Hager, PHOENIX CONTACT, Schneider Electric, B.E.G., MDT technologies, SIEMENS, Theben and WAGO, will present solutions that combine building technology, energy supply and digital control. From intelligent building automation and energy management to connected applications that make more efficient use of energy, automate processes, intelligently integrate variable electricity tariffs and increase comfort, trade visitors will gain a comprehensive insight into the technologies shaping the buildings of tomorrow. The technologies on display address a considerable need for modernization and adaptation within the building sector. In new construction, cross-system planning of technical building services is becoming increasingly important. In existing buildings, electrical infrastructure often first needs to be upgraded to accommodate new technologies and systems. This creates a significant field of activity for the electrical trades. According to the German Electrical and Information Technology Contractors' Association (ZVEH), the electrical wiring in more than 70 percent of existing buildings is over 35 years old1. Existing electrical infrastructures must therefore be modernized and at the same time further developed to meet the requirements of an increasingly electrified and digitalized building environment.
Regulation as a Driver of Transformation
In addition, new legal requirements are having a direct impact on the planning and operation of modern buildings. For example, Section 14a of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG) regulates the grid-oriented control of controllable consumption devices such as heat pumps and charging equipment, making their integration into intelligent energy management systems increasingly relevant. Furthermore, the Building Modernization Act (GModG), which came into force in July 2026, redefines the requirements for the energy-efficient modernization and heating supply of buildings and strengthens, among other things, the role of building automation and energy management. The revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) also provides impetus for greater energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources, charging infrastructure and the digitalization of buildings. In addition, the EPBD introduces automatic lighting controls for certain non-residential buildings: buildings with a relevant connected load of more than 290 kW must be equipped with corresponding systems by the end of 2027, while buildings with more than 70 kW must do so by the end of 2029, provided this is technically and economically feasible. As a result, the demands placed on planning, installation and operation are increasing. Energy generation, heat supply and energy consumption must be coordinated, electrical infrastructures upgraded and technical systems increasingly designed to be digitally controllable and interconnected. Lighting is also becoming more closely integrated into the overall system. “As buildings become increasingly electrified and digitalized, the role of the electrical trades is changing significantly: our specialist companies are increasingly becoming system integrators. In the future, success will depend not only on installing photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, energy storage systems or charging infrastructure, but on intelligently connecting these technologies and aligning them with the grid, the building and its users. This expertise at the interfaces will become a decisive success factor,” says Timm Göckens, Managing Director of NFE Norddeutscher Fachverband Elektro- und Informationstechnik e.V. GET NORD brings these developments together and creates a platform for professional exchange on technologies, solutions and their practical implementation. Trade visitors can learn about current systems, experience applications working together in practice and gain inspiration for the planning and modernization of different types of buildings.
Experiencing the Future Live: The E-House Demonstrates Building Technology as an Integrated System
A practical example of the integration of various technologies is the E-House presented by the German Electrical and Information Technology Contractors' Association (ZVEH). The 100-square-metre walk-through model house will once again be featured at GET NORD in 2026, demonstrating across manufacturers how modern building and energy systems interact. Particular focus is placed on smart metering, Smart Meter Gateway technology and artificial intelligence. Exhibits include AI-supported energy management, solutions for the grid-oriented control of heat pumps, charging equipment and battery storage systems, as well as the integration of variable electricity tariffs. The practical implementation of grid-oriented control and the significance of Section 14a EnWG for building technology are also demonstrated. The range is complemented by applications for security and lighting, age-appropriate living and Human Centric Lighting. The E-House clearly illustrates how energy generation, storage and consumption can be combined with comfort, security and building automation to create an intelligent overall system. Architects, planners, construction professionals, clients, property developers and building owners will gain concrete insights into interdisciplinary planning and implementation as well as solutions to typical challenges encountered in everyday professional practice. Young professionals from the electrical and HVAC trades are also involved in the E-House, demonstrating how important interdisciplinary thinking and corresponding skills are for the building technology of the future.
In addition, the new free Daily Guided Tours make the technologies presented and their interaction tangible on site. On all three trade fair days, tours will take place twice daily on the topics “Connected Energy and Heating Systems”, led by Christian Borchardt (SHK Hamburg), and “The E-House: Hands-On Digitalization, AI and Smart Home”, led by Klaus Ott and Marco Koyne (NFE Norddeutscher Fachverband Elektro- und Informationstechnik e.V.).
The Interface Between Electricity and Heat
The increasing integration of electrical installations and residential heating technology will also be a central theme of the ELEKTRO+ and WÄRME+ Forum, which will be jointly organized for the first time at GET NORD 2026. Together with their partners from industry and the skilled trades, as well as HEA – Fachgemeinschaft für effiziente Energieanwendung e.V., the two initiatives will combine their expertise. The stage program will focus on how electrical installations and residential heating technology are merging into an integrated, connected system and what requirements this creates for the planning, modernization and operation of buildings. Heat generation, domestic hot water production, ventilation and air conditioning can increasingly no longer be considered independently of electrical infrastructure. Topics will include the role of electrical installations as the central interface of modern building technology, the interaction between heat generation, power generation and consumption, as well as current standards and requirements. The program will be complemented by technological developments and practical solutions for safe, energy-efficient and cost-effective energy use. The forum is therefore aimed equally at skilled trades professionals, architectural firms, MEP planners and property owners, providing manufacturer-independent knowledge for the planning and implementation of future-proof building concepts.
Award Recognizes Innovative Building Services Engineering Concepts
Another highlight of GET NORD 2026 will be the presentation of the GERMAN TGA AWARD. Presented for the seventh time by the trade magazine Moderne Gebäudetechnik, the award recognizes outstanding new-build and refurbishment projects as well as innovative concepts in building services engineering. It honors solutions that go beyond the current state of the art and provide new impetus for sustainable and future-oriented building technology, for example through exceptional energy or water efficiency, sustainable concepts or innovative approaches to digitalization. Young talent is also included: in a dedicated category, students of building services engineering and related disciplines will be recognized for forward-looking ideas. The award ceremony will take place on 20 November 2026 at the InnovationsForum in Hall B6 at GET NORD in Hamburg.
