Energy consultant for a KfW 70 house costs 2,500€?

Good evening,

I hope I am in the right place with my topic here. I would like to hear your opinion about our energy consultant.

We are now in the detailed planning phase of our semi-detached house with our independent architect. The architect has planned the semi-detached house for us with the energy efficiency standard 55. For support as an expert, an energy consultant has submitted a fee proposal amounting to 2,850€. Half of this would be eligible for funding through the KfW subsidy. Believing that we would meet the KfW 55 standard, we accepted the offer. After a few meetings with the architect and the calculations of the energy consultant, however, it has now become apparent that with our construction project we will not reach the 55 standard, but only the 70 standard, which is no longer eligible for funding. Our energy consultant is now insisting on the previously agreed offer.

He is of the opinion that the calculations already made, the further support, and the issuance of the energy certificate justify this price. As a goodwill gesture, he would still give us a discount so that he receives a total of 2,400€ for support of a construction project of a KfW 70 house – which is now of course no longer subsidized.

Are these usual prices? In my opinion, the offer is based on the wrong premise as we only agreed under the belief that he would support us with the construction project of a KfW 55 house.

Does anyone have tips on how to proceed?

Regards

Well, the calculations are basically the same. Whether it comes out to 55 or 70 downstairs makes no difference. The certificate must also be created and the thermal protection verification as well. So no matter how you look at it, you only save at the point where the two confirmations have to be created for the KFW before/after (or not).

Whether the price is justified is for someone else to decide.

But something else: What is the reason you are not reaching KFW55? There must be some kind of analysis to justify the work. You can’t be that far off, really.

He has done the calculations and if the planned building quality is not sufficient for KFW 55, that is not his fault. However, it is his task to communicate which improvements are necessary to achieve KFW 55. Why don't you take this approach? What is the reason for failing KFW 55, primary energy demand or building envelope?

Since the construction supervision and also the paperwork with the KFW are omitted, in my opinion he only prepared the thermal protection certificate. For that, I find up to 1500€ reasonable.

After all, he had a basis for an initial assessment of your architect (?) Someone came up with the idea/plan that you put up a 55er. I would put him on the spot and demand that it is achieved. Did he make any proposals on how to achieve 55er and what additional costs it entails?

Since the construction supervision and also the paperwork with KFW are omitted, in my opinion he only created the thermal protection certificate. For that, I find up to 1500€ reasonable.

Well, as described above, the contract also provides for construction supervision, which he still intends to maintain.

That would indeed be another point where savings could possibly be made.

Well, as described above, the contract also includes construction supervision, which he still wants to maintain.

That would indeed be one point where savings might possibly be made.

If he still provides construction supervision, the fee is already okay. Then only the KFW paperwork is missing. Without the KFW program, construction supervision by the energy consultant is not necessary in my opinion. Does he want to measure how thick the insulation is installed? For that, no construction supervision is needed.