In order to build energy-efficiently, legal requirements from the Building Energy Act (GEG) must be met. These relate, among other things, to thermal insulation as well as power generation and supply. These aspects and methods are specified in a building technology concept, as are the type of heating and information on the energy requirements of a house. Basically, there are three different building concepts based on energy-efficient construction: the passive house, the zero-energy house or the energy-autonomous house.
In order for builders to benefit from government subsidies in the area of energy-efficient construction, standards must be met. These are specified by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). Properties that adhere to the specifications from the GEG are considered KfW reference buildings. The classification as a KfW Efficiency House 50, 40 or 40 Plus defines standards that exceed the minimum standards of the reference building and for which other funding amounts can be applied for.
But energy-efficient construction involves many more aspects than insulation, heating and power supply. This is especially important if, in addition to saving costs, you also want to help shape the environment in a sustainable way. For example, care should be taken to use only building materials that have a good energy balance. Wood, for example, has very good insulating properties. Lightweight concrete building materials from the region consume little energy during production as well as transport and are therefore also considered energy-efficient. Both the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs (BMI) and the ÖKOBAUDAT database provide information on different building materials and their energy efficiency.
Source: Immowelt AG
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