As a homeowner, you want the highest possible energy savings. For existing properties, you can receive attractive funding from KfW under the KfW85 program, even for houses with higher energy requirements. Our experts are very familiar with these and other standards and explain here how you can specifically promote your energy-efficient house.
KfW85 and the 2022 program reform
Increasing the energy efficiency of existing buildings is close to the hearts of almost all owners. Until the summer of 2022, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) offered a subsidy even for properties whose primary energy requirement was 100% after the subsidy. In other words, even if the building used the maximum amount of energy, it was possible to apply for a grant.
The primary purpose of the KfW100 energy-efficient house program was to bring old buildings up to the standard of new buildings. Measures to insulate or renew heating technology met modern standards, but did not require a heavily insulated building envelope or renewable energy sources for heating.
The options for owners have changed with the reform of the KfW funding programs in the summer of 2022. For the energy-efficient house, there is a stage model with the four stages 40, 55, 70 and 85. The KfW85 subsidy is currently the best subsidy program for owners who have so far invested little in the energy efficiency of their property. The bonus for the individual renovation roadmap was also eliminated in the summer of 2022.
Criteria and requirements of KfW85
In order to achieve the KfW85 standard and benefit from this funding program, KfW sets clear criteria in insulation and heating. For heat generation, this standard offers you a choice of the following heating technologies:
heat pumps
Condensing boiler systems with solar support
Biomass & Pellet Plants
Fuel cells
A ventilation system is not mandatory for this standard. However, the additional integration of a ventilation system has a positive effect on the primary energy factor. For insulation, the comparable values of the now expired KfW100 subsidy apply. The U-values are, among others:
Exterior wall: 0.24 W/(m²K)
Pitched roofs/roofs of unheated attics: 0.24 W/(m²K)
Windows: 1.3 W/(m²K)
House entrance door: 1.80 W/(m²K)
Ceiling to unheated basement: 0.30 W/(m²K)
Our consultants know that these values mean little to laypeople in energy matters. Therefore, in other words, for most properties this means achieving 14.0 cm of exterior wall insulation, 20.0 cm of roof insulation, and 8.0 cm of basement insulation.
Promotion and subsidies through KfW85
The subsidy from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau can be used in the form of a fixed subsidy or a reduction in the repayment of the renovation loan. Depending on your individual requirements, different variants may be more or less worthwhile. These funding options are available:
subsidized borrowing up to 120,000 euros with 5.0% repayment subsidy
Subsidized borrowing up to 150,000 euros with 10.0% repayment subsidy (for EE class)
Renewable energy class, or EE class for short, refers to a higher standard of your heating system. If you would like to have the increase of your energy efficiency promoted by KfW and the share of renewable energies of your heating technology covers at least 55 % of the demand of your property, the prerequisite is fulfilled. An additional incentive that is already conceivable for an energy efficiency house KfW85.
Requirements for the application
In order for you to benefit from the KfW85 subsidy program or other KfW programs, professional and early planning is important. All relevant documents, including cost estimates, must be submitted to Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau for approval of the requested funding. Each application is reviewed individually; unfortunately, you do not have a binding claim to the funding.
In any case, you should not take the step of applying alone. Often, lay people do not know exactly what documents are reviewed for approval. In the worst case, your grant project will leave a bad impression from the beginning and the chances of a grant will decrease. Comprehensive preparation of your KfW85 funding is therefore strongly advised. For this purpose, they can initially use energy consulting for residential buildings. The next step is to find an energy efficiency expert to help you apply for the grant. An overview of approved experts is provided by the German Energy Agency dena.
Availability for refurbishment and new construction?
According to the current standards of KfW funding, the KfW85 and KfW70 programs, as comparatively low levels, are exclusively associated with energy refurbishment of existing residential properties. Important: Since spring 2022, this also applies to the KfW55 efficiency house. In the case of financial support for a new building, KfW now requires an even higher level of energy efficiency in order to grant funding for your construction measures. If you are interested in this and would like to benefit from financial support for a new building, take a look at the KfW40 or KfW40-Plus subsidy programs.
Further information on KfW funding programs
Would you like to learn more about the other subsidy programs besides KfW85? On our website, you will find more relevant information about the current grant opportunities available to you for energy-efficient renovation or new construction of your home.
Sarah Völkl hat Architektur studiert und ist seit Jahren das Gesicht von a better place. Mit ihren Videos ist sie bei YouTube vielen Personen schon länger bekannt. Sarah teilt Ihr Wissen jetzt auch bei den Bautipps von Almondia.
