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Serial retrofitting: lower costs, more convenience – now also for non-residential buildings
Using prefabricated elements to quickly – and, going forward, also cost-efficiently – improve the energy performance of buildings is a successful concept, not only in Germany, but in many European countries. The principle of serial retrofitting was originally thought up in the Netherlands, and dubbed the “Energiesprong” (energy leap).
Roof and façade elements which have been digitally planned and prefabricated off-site and prefabricated technology which is already integrated into the elements of the building can make it possible to improve the energy performance of buildings in a rapid and sophisticated way. This cuts retrofitting costs and the time needed on-site. Fewer workers and less building material are needed on-site. So this makes the overall construction sector more efficient. This benefits not only the real estate sector, but also helps owners and tenants. It is estimated that around 30% of Germany’s building stock can be improved by serial retrofitting.
So this approach can play a key role in boosting the rate of modernisation and thus to attaining the climate targets in the buildings sector. It is therefore regarded as a key technology for the heat transition.
Funding bonus also available for non-residential buildings since the end of September
Since the end of September, the funding bonus (“SerSan-Bonus”), which is already part of the federal funding for energy-efficient buildings (BEG) programme for residential buildings, has been extended to cover non-residential buildings. This can help municipalities, for example, to make urgently needed improvements to schools, administrative and cultural buildings, quickly and at feasible costs.
But how much bonus is available, and for what? For building standards of EH/EG 55 and EH/EG 40, the grant is 15%, and for EH/EG 70 it is 5%. The Efficiency House 55 and Efficiency House 40 standards describe how much energy a building consumes compared to a defined reference building. The bonus can be applied for via the KfW by the project manager or the owner of the building – before the work starts, and with input from a certified energy efficiency expert.
Serial retrofitting has also opened up a new branch of industry for innovative retrofitting solutions, with great opportunities for SMEs. Serial retrofitting has long since emerged from its infancy, and a lot is happening on the market. Some 300 projects (multi-family houses, single-family houses, non-residential buildings) have now been completed or are underway, including some 6,000 dwelling units. Around another 300 projects are currently being planned and prepared, including approx. 17,500 dwelling units.
Next milestone: framework agreement for serial retrofitting
The next milestone is to be a framework agreement for serial retrofitting, to massively speed up and reduce the cost of improving the energy performance of thousands of existing buildings in Germany. It is likely to be in place from spring 2027. The level of attention being paid to this issue in the sector was recently reflected in the annual serial retrofitting networking meeting, with 400 guests from the housing industry, the construction industry, municipalities, private real estate owners, planners, consultancies and government at the beginning of September. The “Energiesprong Festival” was fully booked up.
It also launched the new “ScaleUp Alliance EFH”, run by the dena Serial Retrofitting Centre of Excellence. Going forward, it is to move more tried and tested products and serial retrofitting solutions in the single-family house segment from the phase of individual project to broad market implementation.