New energy saving regulation from 2016 -> What to build?

Good morning,

regarding the other providers, it is certainly not wrong to get more opinions and incentives. Often this reinforces a decision or makes one question clearer. Of course, the value of comparisons also increases immensely.

Regarding the plot of land, if there is still room for maneuver (which is absolutely unthinkable in our area), as you wrote, that will certainly take some time.

The question of starting the construction project in April 2016 can really only be answered by the construction companies. If you are clear about what exactly you want and the companies agree to it, why not. In my case, I am also just at the beginning (just acquired the plot), but the start of construction is still pending, although it is probably the case with us that planning for construction should (or must) start about one year in advance.

As mentioned, it is often a question of technology and materials used. If it is clear to you from the outset that you do not want an oil heating system or possibly not even a gas heating system, you will automatically come closer to the values of Kfw55 / KFW70 and almost answer this yourself (do not forget that of course other factors come into play, such as masonry, windows, etc.). Naturally, some variants are more expensive to purchase than others. Just compare gas condensing boilers, air-water heat pumps with ground-source heat pumps. An additional effort or higher cost compared to a non-KFW70 house is surely self-explanatory, but in my opinion, only a professional can make an efficiency calculation for about 30 years tailored to your personal house (in the region). For me, for example, oil or gas would not be an option (for future-oriented reasons alone).

Here, of course, I can also refer to the middle post written above. As an allergy sufferer, a ventilation system would be an option for me from April to September anyway, as I hope for an improvement mainly in the cozy home. There are also filters for ventilation systems for this purpose. Although I have heard and read both positive and negative things so far regarding bacteria (stagnant air), etc. The aspect you wrote about concerning drying time would also be a plus for me.

The system you mentioned (the combination) of photovoltaic + air-water heat pump + ventilation system + underfloor heating is not only available from Viebrockhaus but also from all other providers. In these systems, the best possible combination must simply be assembled for the builder. In some regions, a ground-source heat pump is used because the average temperature over the year is too cold, in others, because the plot is large enough, surface collectors are used, and so on. Ultimately, the right solution for your house, for your region and for you will be filtered out, or it should be so.

Hello,

Now I have made two considerations:

1. From 01.01.2016 the new Energy Saving Ordinance applies. As I understand it, as a home builder you are then obliged to build a house that corresponds roughly in terms of energy consumption to a current KfW 70 house. If you want to avoid this obligation, you must submit the building application within this year. Is that correct?

Unfortunately, the article is insufficiently researched; the author could already have known in January what the 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance means for the builder. But in principle it is very simple: what is currently KfW 70 will then become the standard reference building of the Energy Saving Ordinance. However, the subsidies for this model only run out on 31.03.16; so if you want to build an efficiency house 70, you can also apply for funds until this date; the application must be received by the KfW by the end of March 16. BUT - the building application must really be submitted to the responsible building authority by the end of 12/2015. So it is better not to wait until Christmas.

2. In the threads I have read here so far, it is always said that the additional costs for a KfW 55/70 house cannot be offset by the cheap KfW loan. But you also have to consider that an energy-saving house also has lower running incidental costs. Is it still not worthwhile if you do not decide on an energy-saving house anyway for ecological reasons?

You have to differentiate - the old posts all refer to current construction projects (CP) and thus mostly to construction descriptions (CD) which reflect the previous reference house of the Energy Saving Ordinance (KfW 85). Back then it was indeed the case that the additional expense from KfW 85 to KfW 55 was not economically reasonable; the surcharge was up to TEUR 25. The small difference between the interest on the KfW subsidy loan and the daily interest rates hardly provided any incentive to choose this option, as the payback was hardly or not at all achievable.

From April 2016 the situation looks completely different again. On the one hand, because quite a few providers have to adapt their CDs to the - then - standard KfW 70 (in order to remain competitive), the step from the - then - reference building to KfW 55 is manageable AND there will then be subsidies worth TEUR 100 for KfW 55 AND for 20 years and not - as before - for 10 years.

This now raises the question for our house building project whether we should still submit the building application this year and for which standard we should decide. What are your opinions on this?

That is a personal question which only you yourself can answer. From my point of view, KfW 70 TODAY is an economically correct decision because the additional effort to KfW 55 does not bring any truly noticeable savings on heating costs. On the other hand – if the CD of your preferred provider is already aligned with the upcoming 2016 Energy Saving Ordinance and you have already decided on a ventilation system – which no home builder should really do without these days, regardless of the building system he chooses (naturally even more so with prefabricated houses) – the effort to KfW 55 in conventional solid construction is no longer really large; in relation to the required construction sum. I could imagine that the higher subsidy amounts also exert a certain incentive; but that is also a very personal decision and depends on further interest rate developments.

But even building a house in 2016 according to the then applicable standard (KfW 70) is not really a bad decision; after all, if it is a good choice these days to build that way? With this basic standard every home builder can later – as saved/inherited/won money becomes available again – invest in additional technology – for example photovoltaic + storage – and thus raise the efficiency house standard of his house. In the event of a house sale – and nobody can really speak free from this – what counts for a potential buyer anyway is what is on the bill from the electricity provider & Co.

PS: if you want to decide for the esteemed colleague red competitor, you no longer have to worry that the exhaust air heat pump will eat you up cost-wise, nor that the efficiency house standard KfW 55 will not be demonstrably achieved. He (Viebrockhaus) has – crystal ball mode on – probably learned from past mistakes – crystal ball mode off – and already offers a small photovoltaic system as standard.

Rhineland greetings

From April 2016, the world looks completely different again. On the one hand, because quite a few providers will have to adjust their BB to the - then - standard KfW 70 (to remain competitive), the step from the - then - reference house to KfW 55 is manageable AND there will then be funding in the amount of TEUR 100 for KfW 55 AND for 20 years and not - as before - for 10 years.

Ok, that reassures me. I also had the feeling that the KfW loan 153 offered from April 2016 is really interesting. Assuming an interest rate of 1% compared to 2.1% at a bank and a term of 20 years as well as a repayment grant of €2,500, I come to an advantage of about €15,000 when choosing the KfW loan. And for that, one can probably cover quite a bit of the additional costs (KfW55 vs. KfW70).

However, the funding for this model only expires on 31.03.16; insofar, if you want to build an Efficiency House 70, you can also apply for the funds up to this date; the application must be submitted to the KfW by the end of March 16. BUT - the building application really must be submitted to the responsible building authority by the end of 12/2015. So it’s better not to wait until Christmas

Ok, thanks for the explanation. And what if I want to build a KfW55 house and of course would like to take advantage of the new funding? Which deadlines then apply? From when may I submit my building application? Already before 1.4.? Do I then just have to apply for the funding after 1.4.?

[...] PS: If you want to decide for the estimated colleague red competitor, you don’t need to worry anymore that the exhaust air heat pump will eat up your costs, nor that the efficiency house standard KfW 55 will not be verifiably achieved. He (Viebrockhaus) has - crystal ball mode on - probably learned from past mistakes - crystal ball mode off - and already offers a small photovoltaic system as standard now.

Thanks for your detailed assessment. I understand that much is a personal decision and that one has to balance economic knowledge with ecological conscience.
Regarding Viebrockhaus, I take from your answer that you basically consider the current combination of energy-saving measures included in their standard to be reasonable?

For example: 3400 kWh in the year 2014 with 152 m² living space and 4 people (I just took one from the middle - there are some with more and some with less). The family therefore paid 70 € per month for heating and hot water. Another paid 50 € (145 m²) and another 94 € (156 m²).

Good evening,

And what if I want to build a KfW55 house and of course also want to take advantage of the new funding? Which deadlines then apply? From when am I allowed to submit my building application? Already before 1.4.? Do I then just have to apply for the funding after 1.4.?

The building application has nothing to do with applying for the funding.

If nothing changes in the next few months - possibly the option to draw the new funding before the deadline - your online application should only be submitted as of 01.04.16.

Regarding Viebrockhaus, I take from your answer that you basically consider the current combination of energy-saving measures that is standard there to be sensible?

Yes.

Greetings from the Rhineland

From April 2016 onwards, the world looks completely different again. On the one hand, because quite a few providers have to adjust their BB to the - then - standard KfW 70 (to remain competitive), the step from the - then - reference house - to KfW 55 is manageable AND there will then be funding in the amount of EUR 100,000 for KfW 55 AND for 20 years and not - as before - for 10 years.

Good morning everyone,

now I have to inquire again regarding this

regarding the KfW funding or the EUR 100,000 for KfW 55. Currently, the KfW program 153 has the following data:

[*]Loan amount EUR 50,000
[*]at (0.75%) interest
[*]with a term of 11 to 20 years
[*]and a 1 to 3 year repayment-free start period.
[*]After 10 years, the interest rate is adjusted.

In the KfW condition descriptions, one also reads the example 30 / 5 / 10. So also 30 years term with 5 years repayment-free start period and interest rate adjustment after 10 years.

To which KfW component does this refer?

Are there already any information about upcoming changes concerning KfW funding from the start of the Energy Saving Ordinance 2016?