KFW70 or Home Ownership Program - which is more economical?

Good day everyone,

My partner and I want to have a turnkey solid house built, but we are still somewhat torn regarding the building technology and its financing.

Several acquaintances have recommended a builder from the region to us, from whom their houses were also constructed. Indeed, we felt fairly advised by the contact person of this company and also received the cheapest offer from him. Two other providers were (already in the basic equipment) significantly more expensive, and we had the impression that they wanted to "push" a geothermal heat pump on us at all costs.

The house with the preferred provider should cost around €161,000 in the basic equipment ("energy-saving house" with 150 sqm of living space and facing masonry). Additionally, there might be:
- Single-flue chimney (for the fireplace we want) for €3,500
- Windows with triple glazing and five-chamber system for €1,800 (surcharge compared to double glazing)
- Controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery for €8,500
- Solar system with 4.5 sqm collector area and 300-liter water tank for €5,500

Included in the base price are a gas condensing boiler with weather-controlled regulation and night setback as well as flat radiators.

For us, the question now is: KFW70 or home ownership program? This decision is certainly influenced by the foreseeable effectiveness of the solar system. Because the roof slopes of the house will be oriented to the east or west; conceivably unsuitable for solar collectors. In addition, about 20 meters west of the house there are tall oaks providing a lot of shade.

Calculated in a simplistic way, the KFW70 loan would be about €7,000 cheaper in the first ten years (until replaced by a building savings contract) than the loan from the home ownership program. The additional cost for materials and installation of the solar system would thus be covered. But what additional costs can we expect for the realization of the construction project as a KFW70 efficiency house? "Organizational efforts" and the costs for the maintenance of the system are hard for me to grasp.

In the providers’ brochures, geothermal heat pumps sound tempting: independence from fossil fuels and long service life. But from what I have read in independent guides, rising electricity costs and an unpredictable efficiency put geothermal systems in a very different light. For cost reasons as well, we have distanced ourselves from such a solution.

Are there further economic options to take advantage of the attractive conditions of the KFW70 loan without having to rely on solar energy or geothermal?

I would be grateful for your independent assessments and experiences on this topic.

Best regards,
Dennis

Hello,

...... But according to what I have read in independent guides, rising electricity costs and an uncertain efficiency put geothermal systems in a completely different light.

The costs of all energy sources will increase significantly. The efficiency of heat pump systems is very well assessable, provided there is precise planning and dimensioning.

...... Are there further economic possibilities, ...

Certainly, but this requires knowledge of the actual demand (power, energy) for heating and hot water.

Best regards.

For us, the question now is: KFW70 or Home Ownership Program? This decision is certainly also influenced by the foreseeable effectiveness of the solar system. Because the roof slopes of the house will be oriented to the east or west; hardly suitable for solar collectors. In addition, about 20 meters west of the house there are tall oaks that cast a lot of shade.

Hello Dennis,

You seem to assume that KFW70 has something to do with solar thermal (ST)...
Unfortunately, this is often portrayed that way, but it is still wrong...

Actually, you are already giving yourself the answer: east-west oriented roof with massive shading.
The economic benefit of ST is already borderline when it is an unshaded south-facing roof...
In your case, in my opinion, you can even skip the calculations so aptly suggested by Euro and just use a bit of common sense :rolleyes:

The question about KFW70 is a completely different one. Whether it makes sense for you, I cannot evaluate. Better ask your builder how big the cost difference is between the Energy Saving Ordinance and KFW70. Then you might be able to answer that question yourself...
My tip (that's how I did it too): building envelope according to KFW70. I wanted controlled residential ventilation anyway - for reasons of living quality. Afterwards, I looked at what extra effort it means to really achieve KFW70. After my builder recalculated, he came up with an additional 4cm of insulation in the roof... I didn't have to think long about that...
But that is a consideration independent of financing via the KFW bank. What makes sense for you or not, I cannot judge...

Regards Micha :cool:

what is stopping you from combining both loans? they don't mutually exclude each other in my opinion...

and how exactly was your back-of-the-envelope calculation that the kfw70 loan saves €7000 in the first 10 years compared to the home ownership program????

....In your opinion, one can even do without the calculations aptly suggested by Euro and simply apply a bit of common sense ...

This apparently common sense has caused quite a few money pits!! Self-proclaimed hobby experts, without guarantee or warranty for their statements/contributions, mostly see it very differently, as is often found here! ;)
Best regards

....In this - here present - case I would examine the application of the 15% rule. If the economic efficiency is given here, I would not waste any thought on ST...

You are not wrong here, little can be harvested from the sun in the shade, no matter what type of use.

....only the insignificant opinion of someone who (of course only as a hobby) has been planning photovoltaic power plants for years...

Then you should know that a single-family house is subject to completely different boundary conditions.
Completely independently of that, first the demand for heating and hot water must be known; how this is then sensibly and economically covered is always the other side of the coin! ;-)

best regards