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05/16/24 Energy efficiency Buildings Districts Redesigning buildings and areas

Housing companies focus on serial refurbishment

High demand as part of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings programme: One in six high-efficiency serial refurbishments to be realised

Berlin, Germany, 16 May 2024. The demand for serial refurbishment solutions continues to rise. One in six refurbishment projects to make a home energy-efficient according to Germany’s EG 40 or 55 standard that was applied for in 2023/24 as part of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings programme is a serial refurbishment. In terms of residential units, it was even one in four flats that is to be a serial refurbishment project in the first quarter of 2024. This is shown by a current evaluation of Germany’s subsidy programme, which has also included a bonus for the serial refurbishment of residential buildings since the beginning of 2023. Before the bonus was introduced, serial refurbishments accounted for less than two per cent, with the focus being on pilot projects.

Corinna Enders, Chairperson of the Management Board at dena, said, ‘significant progress is still needed in the heating transition, of which serial refurbishment is an important component. The bonus for serial refurbishments as part of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings programme is proving to be an effective incentive to cost-effectively implement this innovative solution for apartment buildings now and thus accelerate the transformation to a climate-neutral building stock. The bonus benefits from the pioneer network initiated and coordinated by dena and the joint market development in which new solutions are developed and trialled. In combination with dena’s support, also for new players, the bonus provides the necessary tailwind to transfer the knowledge to larger projects and entire portfolios and thus quickly bring serial refurbishments into widespread use.’

Serial refurbishments accelerate the transformation to a climate-neutral building stock

The majority of buildings in Germany must be modernised in terms of energy efficiency in order to achieve the climate targets by 2045. To this end, serial refurbishment solutions are indispensable. They combine digital planning with prefabrication of façade and (PV) roof elements as well as energy modules and standardised processes. In this manner, more buildings can be brought up to a climate-neutral net-zero standard in less time.

About Germany’s bonus programme for serial refurbishments

Serial refurbishment solutions are already on par with the costs of conventional energy refurbishments with significantly faster implementation thanks to the serial refurbishment bonus of 15 per cent as part of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings programme. The basic requirement for the subsidy bonus is the achievement of Germany’s EG 40 or 55 standard. The subsidy consists of low-interest loans of up to €150,000 per residential unit, which are one to two percentage points below the usual market interest rates. In addition, there are further repayment grants, which in the best case can add up to 45 per cent, which corresponds to a subsidy of €67,000 per residential unit.

About dena’s market development team

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, dena initiates, coordinates and supports the development of serial refurbishment solutions. It brings together innovative players in the industry to jointly develop new solutions for apartment buildings, single-family homes and non-residential buildings and to promote climate protection. Together with regional partners, it supports housing companies, public and private property owners, construction companies, manufacturers, architecture/planning offices and other drivers of innovation in the implementation of new refurbishment processes, concept development, project realisation, further development of serial refurbishment solutions and the transfer of knowledge among each other.

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