Bau: Förderung für klimafreundlichen Neubau bis Jahresende sicher

By the end of the year, the German government plans to continue providing support for energy-efficient buildings with a focus on homes built to the EH55 energy efficiency standard. This was necessary as the original budget of 800 million euros for this program was expected to run out before the year's end, according to the Ministry of Construction.

The additional funding aims to prevent builders from facing financial difficulties and ensure the completion of already approved construction projects. The program supports the construction of homes that consume only 55 percent of the energy required by a conventional home, with all heat generated from renewable sources. Oil or gas heating systems are ineligible for the program.

The funding is provided through interest-bearing loans from the KfW bank, and applicants must have a building permit in place. Since the program's launch, 52,100 homes have been supported. The demand for this support has significantly increased in recent months, according to Minister for Construction Verena Hubertz. The government is allocating additional funds to ensure that construction can proceed without interruption, allowing long-term planning for housing companies.

Construction costs have risen, with prices for new residential buildings in August being 5.5 percent higher than a year prior, primarily due to increased costs for roofing, room, and woodwork, as well as heating systems. The support is crucial for the housing industry to create a reliable funding landscape, enabling developers to plan long-term projects confidently.