Öko-Zentrum NRW
Öko-Zentrum NRW is a German interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable, energy-efficient building. It serves municipalities, planners, companies, and government bodies via three pillars: Planning, Consulting, and Qualification (distance-learning Akademie), with a Japan Desk in Tokyo.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersHamm, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Öko-Zentrum NRW does
Öko-Zentrum NRW GmbH is a private German interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy headquartered in Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia, specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient building. Founded in 1991 as a state initiative of NRW and fully privatized in 2005 under Managing Partner Manfred Rauschen, the company operates a three-pillar model spanning Planning (renovation, refurbishment, new construction, building physics and energy concepts), Consulting (sustainability certification under DGNB/BNB, life-cycle analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, building material selection, and BAFA-subsidized energy consulting), and Qualification (the Öko-Zentrum NRW Akademie distance-learning platform with sub-brands energieberater24, Energieplaner24, Feuchte Schimmel24, and Baubiologie24, plus dena-credited workshops and online seminars).
The company monetizes through fee-for-service professional engagements, subsidized consulting, and training course revenue, with pricing provided on a custom-quotation basis rather than standardized rates. Its customer base spans German municipalities, planners/architects, corporate sustainability teams, and individual building professionals seeking accredited qualifications, alongside a separate Japan-focused service line (Japan Desk in Tokyo, established 2007) supporting German-Japanese knowledge transfer on energy-efficient construction. Öko-Zentrum NRW additionally performs BAFA Q-Prüfung quality certification testing on behalf of the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control, and partners with Energiesprong on serial refurbishment (Serielles Sanieren).
The company reports approximately €3 million in annual revenue as of mid-2026 and a team of 50+ experts across architecture, civil engineering, building physics, and sustainability certification disciplines. Effective July 1, 2026, management was expanded to three Managing Directors (Rauschen, Kasper, Karwatzki) as part of a planned generational transition, while a JENA joint venture in Tokyo (est. 2012) and cooperation agreements with BBSR, MLIT, BRI, DGNB, B.A.U.M. Consult, and several Japanese prefectures anchor its cross-border position.
Öko-Zentrum NRW firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Öko-Zentrum NRW
- Legal name
- Öko-Zentrum NRW GmbH
- Website
- https://oekozentrum.nrw
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Öko-Zentrum NRW is a German interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable, energy-efficient building. It serves municipalities, planners, companies, and government bodies via three pillars: Planning, Consulting, and Qualification (distance-learning Akademie), with a Japan Desk in Tokyo.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Öko-Zentrum NRW industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Energy Efficiency Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Compliance, Risk & EHS Management (BPABAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Asset Management & Owner’s Engineering (Lifecycle Strategy, Budgeting, Technical Due Diligence) (EUAMAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Öko-Zentrum NRW is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamm
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Öko-Zentrum NRW business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Planning Services: Architectural and engineering planning services including new construction and renovation projects, damage remediation, and comprehensive redevelopment planning. Services cover public buildings, administrative and commercial buildings, residential buildings implementing various energy standards (EnEV, KfW-efficient house, passive house).
- Consulting Services: Specialist consulting for private and public clients including demand planning, building quality targets, energy concepts and optimization, cost-effectiveness analysis, building material selection, and building certification. Also includes subsidized energy consulting.
- Qualification and Training: Distance learning courses and seminars for building professionals to qualify as 'building energy consultants', 'expert planners for energy efficiency and passive houses', 'audited planners for building biology', or 'specialists for mould and moisture protection'. Also offers day seminars, workshops, conferences and online seminars.
- BAFA Q-Prüfung Services: Quality certification testing for energy consulting services performed on behalf of BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle).
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Öko-Zentrum NRW product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Öko-Zentrum NRW is an interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient building. Its offering is organized around three pillars: Planning (architectural and engineering planning for renovation, refurbishment, new buildings; thermal insulation, thermal bridge, thermal simulation, moisture and sound insulation services), Consulting (energy concepts, demand planning, cost-effectiveness, building material selection, building certification including DGNB/BNB, subsidized energy consulting, BAFA Q-Prüfung), and Qualification (distance-learning courses and seminars for building energy consultants, passive house designers, building biologists, mould/moisture specialists via the Öko-Zentrum NRW Akademie).
Product overview
Öko-Zentrum NRW is an interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient building. The company operates three core pillars: Planning (architectural and engineering planning, energy concepts, building physics), Consulting (energy consulting, sustainability certification, damage remediation), and Qualification (distance learning and seminars via the Öko-Zentrum NRW Akademie). The Akademie platform serves as the primary digital product, offering internet-based distance learning courses under brands like energieberater24 (for residential and non-residential buildings), Energieplaner24, Feuchte Schimmel24, and Baubiologie24, alongside online seminars and workshops. Additional services include BAFA Q-Prüfung qualification examinations, serial renovation consulting, and building certification support (DGNB/BNB). The company also maintains a Japan-focused division for German-Japanese cooperation in sustainable construction.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- energieberater24: Distance learning courses for building energy consultants
- effizienzhausplaner24
- energieplaner24
- feuchteschimmel24
- baubiologie24
Products and services
- Öko-Zentrum NRW Akademie Internet-based distance learning and seminar platform offering courses in sustainable construction, building renovation, energy-efficient building planning, and building biology for construction-industry professionals.
- energieberater24 (Wohngebäude) Distance learning course qualifying participants as certified building energy consultants for residential buildings.
- energieberater24 (Nichtwohngebäude) Distance learning course qualifying participants as building energy consultants for non-residential buildings.
- Energieplaner24 Distance learning course for energy planning certification.
- Feuchte Schimmel24 Distance learning course qualifying specialists in mould and moisture protection.
- Baubiologie24 Distance learning course for building biology certification.
- Fernlehrgänge24 Comprehensive distance learning program for building experts covering energy consulting, efficient-house planning, and building biology qualifications.
- BAFA Q-Prüfung BAFA-authorized qualification examination for energy consultants performing subsidized energy advisory services, conducted on behalf of the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control.
- Online-Seminare Individual online seminars on energy-efficient and sustainable construction and renovation topics, conducted via browser or mobile devices with interactive chat features.
- Workshops Face-to-face one-day seminars at various locations on energy efficiency and sustainable construction, creditable through the dena list of experts.
- Architectural and Engineering Planning Services Architectural and engineering planning services for renovation, refurbishment, new buildings, and damage remediation across public, administrative, commercial, and residential buildings, implementing energy standards such as EnEV, KfW-efficient house, and passive house.
- Energy and Sustainability Consulting Services Specialist consulting for private and public clients covering demand planning, building quality targets, energy concepts and optimization, cost-effectiveness analysis, building material selection, building certification, and subsidized energy consulting.
- Serielles Sanieren (Serial Refurbishment) Energiesprong-partner serial/prefabricated refurbishment solutions for existing buildings, combining industrial prefabrication with energy-efficient renovation.
- Japan Desk Services Japan-focused consulting, market-entry advisory, and project development services for German companies entering Japan or Japanese companies seeking European market access, delivered through the Tokyo-based Japan Desk.
Quantifiable outcome
- First PlusEnergy house in Japan constructed in Takamatsu since 2014, proving high energy efficiency works in Japanese climatic conditions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Öko-Zentrum NRW
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Öko-Zentrum NRW technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Öko-Zentrum NRW partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BBSR (Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung)coreGerman Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development. Öko-Zentrum NRW organizes and advises the technical exchange between Japanese and German ministries of construction since 2013.
- JENA (Japanese Energy Agency)coreJoint venture established in Tokyo in 2012 to professionally market Öko-Zentrum NRW expertise in Japan. Responsible for energy efficiency consulting, planning and implementation of various projects including solar plant development through JENA Solar.
- BRI (Building Research Institute, Japan)coreJapanese Building Research Institute. Since 2019, technical exchange has been coordinated through BBSR and BRI focusing on energy efficiency and sustainable building topics.
- Ishikawa Prefecture, JapanminorInternational exchange agreement established in 2007 to improve energy efficiency of the prefecture's residential buildings. This was the initial cooperation that led to Öko-Zentrum NRW's presence in Japan.
- MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan)coreJapanese ministry with which Germany signed a Memorandum of Cooperation at state secretary level in 2013 for regular exchange on construction topics.
- B.A.U.M. Consult GmbHcoreGerman sustainability consultancy. Manfred Rauschen is Chairman of the Shareholders' Meeting. B.A.U.M. Consult Japan also mentioned as cooperation partner. Pilot study on ECOPROFIT in Fukushima conducted in cooperation.
- BAFA (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle)coreGerman Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control. Öko-Zentrum NRW performs Q-Prüfung (quality certification testing) for energy consulting services on behalf of BAFA.
- EnergiesprongminorPartnership for serial refurbishment (Serielles Sanieren) - prefabricated energy-efficient renovation solutions for existing buildings.
- DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen)coreGerman Sustainable Building Council. Öko-Zentrum NRW has multiple certified DGNB auditors and consultants for building certification.
- Tokyo Metropolitan GovernmentminorMunicipal partnership for energy efficiency and sustainable building cooperation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Öko-Zentrum NRW competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GUTcertifizierungsgesellschaft mbH: Berlin-based certification body for management systems (ISO 50001, 14001) and sustainable buildings (DGNB auditor). Competes with Öko-Zentrum NRW on building certification mandates and offers overlapping energy management consulting.
- co2online GmbH: Berlin-based non-profit energy consultancy running large consumer-facing campaigns on heating modernization, energy certificates and BAFA/KfW subsidies. Overlaps with Öko-Zentrum NRW on residential energy consulting, training the public, and subsidy navigation.
- B.A.U.M. Consult GmbH: German sustainability consultancy whose shareholders' meeting is chaired by Öko-Zentrum NRW's managing partner. Both firms deliver sustainability consulting, training, and ECOPROFIT-style municipal programs, and have partnered on Japan work — a very close peer in scope and geography.
- Passivhaus Institut (PHI): Darmstadt-based institute that developed the Passive House standard and certifies designers, components and buildings. Directly comparable to Öko-Zentrum NRW on passive house designer training, energy-efficient building consulting, and component certification across the DACH region.
Broad incumbents
- TÜV Rheinland Energy & Environment: Global certification and testing conglomerate with energy consulting and building certification practices. Represents the scale threat to Öko-Zentrum NRW on DGNB audits, energy management certification and sustainability services across larger enterprise and municipal accounts.
- Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena): Germany's national energy agency that maintains the official list of energy efficiency experts where Öko-Zentrum NRW courses are credited. Broader scope (energy transition policy, heat transition, building renovation programs) but overlaps on expert training and program delivery.
- Fraunhofer IBP: Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, Germany's leading applied research body on building physics, acoustics and energy efficiency. Competes for technical due diligence, LCA and certification-adjacent work but operates at research scale rather than as a regional consulting boutique.
Regional players
- Energieagentur NRW: North Rhine-Westphalia's regional energy agency operating in the same state as Öko-Zentrum NRW. Delivers municipal heat planning, energy consulting and Klimaschutz programs that directly overlap with Öko-Zentrum NRW's kommunale Wärmeplanung courses and municipality segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Öko-Zentrum NRW social profiles
Digital presenceÖko-Zentrum NRW financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Öko-Zentrum NRW leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Öko-Zentrum NRW funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Öko-Zentrum NRW M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Öko-Zentrum NRW
What does Öko-Zentrum NRW do?
Öko-Zentrum NRW is an interdisciplinary architecture and engineering consultancy specializing in sustainable and energy-efficient building. Its offering is organized around three pillars: Planning (architectural and engineering planning for renovation, refurbishment, new buildings; thermal insulation, thermal bridge, thermal simulation, moisture and sound insulation services), Consulting (energy concepts, demand planning, cost-effectiveness, building material selection, building certification including DGNB/BNB, subsidized energy consulting, BAFA Q-Prüfung), and Qualification (distance-learning courses and seminars for building energy consultants, passive house designers, building biologists, mould/moisture specialists via the Öko-Zentrum NRW Akademie).
Is Öko-Zentrum NRW a public or private company?
Öko-Zentrum NRW is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Öko-Zentrum NRW founded?
Öko-Zentrum NRW was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Öko-Zentrum NRW based?
Öko-Zentrum NRW is headquartered in Hamm, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Öko-Zentrum NRW make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Planning Services are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services, qualification and Training and BAFA Q-Prüfung Services.
Who are Öko-Zentrum NRW's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GUTcertifizierungsgesellschaft mbH, co2online GmbH, B.A.U.M. Consult GmbH and Passivhaus Institut (PHI). Broad incumbents are TÜV Rheinland Energy & Environment, Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) and Fraunhofer IBP. Energieagentur NRW is listed as a regional player.
Does Öko-Zentrum NRW have an API?
No public API is recorded for Öko-Zentrum NRW.
What industry is Öko-Zentrum NRW in?
Öko-Zentrum NRW's product category is Energy Efficiency Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAAAK, Compliance, Risk & EHS Management, with a secondary code of EUAMAGAJ, Asset Management & Owner’s Engineering (Lifecycle Strategy, Budgeting, Technical Due Diligence). Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8711.