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

I totally agree with Alex. Why do you need construction supervision for KFW70? Either your energy advisor shows you how to achieve KFW55, then there is also a reason for construction supervision. Or it stays at KFW70, then you don't need construction supervision either. As far as I remember, KFW requires construction supervision for funding. For Energy Saving Ordinance 2016 aka KFW70, it is not needed. I would save that money, and I would think it makes up a considerable part of the fee. For us (also building with an architect in single trade contracting, Energy Saving Ordinance 2016), the energy advisor receives about 1000€ gross in total. Just as a reference.

Good morning,

thank you for your quick replies. The "upgrade" to the 55 standard fails due to the thickness of the exterior walls. At the moment, our architect has planned 37.5 cm Thermo Sound Gisoton bricks. According to the calculation, these bricks are not sufficient for the 55 standard. To meet this, the bricks must be at least 40 cm or thicker. These thicker bricks would cause additional costs of approx. €3,000 - €5,000 and would only result in an annual energy saving compared to the current standard of about €100.
In addition, our house is currently planned exactly at the building boundary, i.e. if we were to switch to the thicker bricks, we would have to accept a reduction in living space, because we are not allowed to build wider outward, but inward. According to the architect, this would be 8 sqm each on the ground and upper floors.

We are already building with a heat pump, ventilation system with heat recovery, photovoltaic system, wood fiber insulation, etc., but unfortunately fail at the exterior wall.

So can I assume that the [an versierte Preis] is justified?

Regards

The price is okay if it includes construction supervision. Since the KFW topic now seems to be settled for you, construction supervision is unnecessary. I would therefore try to have this task waived in a friendly conversation or pay only a part as compensation for damages so that you stay under 2000€ in total. Does your architect know the KFW consultant? Should they talk to each other...

Ask him why he doesn’t use Ytong 36.5? Then KFW 55 is guaranteed. Karsten

What would you do - would you accept the additional extra costs of around €3-5k and save living space just to achieve the KfW 55 standard?

As already described, we have a pretty good energy standard with the ventilation system with heat recovery. Our bank also offers better interest conditions than the KfW Bank, so we would not be dependent on the KfW Bank's promotional loan. The only "perk" would be the €5k waiver, with which you would then regain the costs above. Additionally, you could claim half of the energy consultant's costs as a subsidy.

Not so easy... and this is just the beginning of the planning...

Regards

What would you do – would you accept the additional extra costs of about 3-5k € and sacrifice living space just to achieve the KfW 55 standard?

As already described, we have a pretty good energy standard with the ventilation system with heat recovery. Our bank also has better interest conditions than the KfW Bank, so we would not be dependent on the KfW Bank's promotional loan. The only "perk" would be the 5k € debt waiver, which would then put the costs back on top. In addition, you could claim half of the energy advisor's costs as a subsidy.

Not so easy... and this is just the beginning of the planning...

Regards

Good energy standard? That has nothing to do with the ventilation. The ventilation is merely a comfort issue. Moreover, due to the ventilation topic, it is now more or less mandatory. Otherwise, the architect would have to be released from liability in writing if mold develops. Very few architects agree to that.

The ventilation saves little energy. You might save about 500 kWh of otherwise lost heat energy and at the same time invest 200-400 kWh of electricity to operate the controlled residential ventilation....