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Refurbishment

Reducing heating costs for every budget

It is easier than one would think to save on heating costs in one’s own four walls – especially in older buildings. Energy-efficient modernisation is one way of achieving this goal, for instance by improving window insulation,

installing a new, efficient heating system or by using renewable energy sources. Simple changes to everyday routines can also produce noticeable effects.

Facts and figures

30000 €
is the maximum funding grant provided by KfW
for each residential unit in the complete refurbishment of a home to become an efficient house.
63 %
of residential buildings in Germany
were constructed before 1979
94 %
of people refurbishing detached homes
would recommend energy-efficient refurbishment measures to other homeowners
13700
experts for energy-efficient building and refurbishment
are listed nationwide in the database of Energy Efficiency Experts for Government Funding Programmes

The heat transition in older buildings

Refurbishment

Homeowners can substantially reduce their energy consumption by installing better thermal insulation and new heating systems – and even tenants can contribute to energy efficiency with surprisingly little effort.

Just under two-thirds of the 18.6 million residential buildings in Germany were constructed before 1979, when energy efficiency was not an important issue. Therefore, most of the houses require improvements in this area. There is a variety of options open to people who are looking to improve the energy balance of their property.

Successful energy-efficient refurbishment

Among others, classic energy-efficient refurbishment measures include fitting  thermal insulation on the outside walls, the roof and in the cellar, installing new windows (thermally insulated glass) and upgrading to a more efficient heating system, possibly for renewable energy sources. Interestingly, KfW provides grants for individual refurbishment measures and the complete modernisation of a house to become an efficient house, in the latter case  providing up to €30,000 per residential unit.

Reducing the costs of heating – it’s perfectly simple

In addition, owners of houses and apartments or also tenants can implement simple measures that cost little or nothing at all. Correct ventilation and heating, also the insulation of windows and doors, are among the first measures that can contribute to saving energy. You will find additional tips on saving energy at zukunft-haus.info.

Individual solutions for every house

 Homeowners and tenants will find plenty of brochures and flyers on the topic of energy efficiency in the dena shop. Each building is unique, so not every question has one single answer. This is why homeowners should arrange to receive advice on energy in their own homes. The expert will analyse the fabric of the building and the heating system and will propose suitable efficiency measures for the individual building in question. Owners of detached and semi-detached houses can receive a subsidy of up to €800 for an on-site energy consultation. The subsidy application is submitted to the Federal Office of Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) by the energy consultant. Suitable advice on energy is also available to tenants, for instance from consumer advice centres.

Trusting the experts

Qualified energy specialists are listed in the Database of Energy Efficiency Experts for Government Funding Programmes. This database includes nearly 13,700 experts who provide competent advice and assist in the implementation of energy-saving measures.

Projects on the topic

Database of Energy Efficiency Experts for Government Funding Programmes

Investors can consult the Database of Energy Efficiency Experts for Government Funding Programmes to find experts in the area of energy-efficient building and refurbishment.

Overview

  • Project start 2011
  • Source of funding: BMWK, KfW Bankengruppe, BAFA
  • Number of listed experts: over 18,000 and about 16,000 available online
  • Number of network partners: 23

Campaign “zukunft haus” (“future house”).

What was originally conceived of as a portal for informing and motivating owners in 2003 has now developed into an extensive campaign and a mainstay for stakeholders from the industry and politicians, as well as for the press.

Overview

  • Project start: 2003
  • Over 9,000 newsletter subscribers
  • Approx. 30,000 press reports with a total reach (circulation) of 1.2 billion
  • Turnover of more than 6.3 million information brochures
  • Free hotline: over 100,000 questions on energy efficiency in buildings
  • Website: (consumer) information tailored specifically for a particular target group; over 8 million visitors on central internet platform

"The Building Transition" Refurbishment Campaign

“The Building Transition” is the first nationwide, cross-sectoral refurbishment campaign. The campaign provides owners of detached and semi-detached houses with detailed information on all aspects of energy-efficient modernisation, and helps them locate qualified energy experts.

Overview

  • Campaign start: 2014
  • Number of partners: 24
  • Number of sponsors: 2
  • Number of regional cooperation partners: 16
  • Regional information events for homeowners: approx. 330
  • media reports triggered by the campaign: approx. 1,600
  • social medial reach: roughly 800,000 persons