New construction projects are not included in the new start-up.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin The Budget Committee of the Bundestag has paved the way for a resumption of funding for the renovation of buildings. The committee issued a commitment authorization of 9.5 billion euros, which now enables the federal government to use funds of this amount.
This “creates the prerequisites for the remediation funding to be resumed in the coming week,” said the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection on request.
From Tuesday, new applications for renovation funding could be made according to the previous model. At the same time, the basis has been created for processing and approving the applications received by January 23 as part of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG), provided they are eligible.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) stopped grants for energy-efficient construction and renovation from the KfW development bank in January shortly before the end of the application period because the available funds threatened to run out. After protests from the housing industry, the ministry announced that applications received before January 24 will still be processed.
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New construction projects are not included in the new start-up. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the new building subsidy should be limited to one billion euros by the end of the year and limited to EH40 buildings. “EH” stands for efficiency house. An EH40 building uses only 40 percent of the energy of a standard home. So far, EH55 buildings have also been funded. But EH55 is now considered no longer eligible.
Create planning security
According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, talks about new building subsidies have not yet been concluded. We are still working on solutions together with the Ministry of Housing. A concept will be “presented promptly”.
Companies that are committed to increasing energy efficiency welcome the development. Martin Bornholdt from the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) said: “Finally we are continuing with the refurbishment subsidy. Especially with the currently exploding heating prices, the refurbishment rate must rise quickly in order to protect consumers from energy poverty.”
“Secure financing for the renovation subsidy for the entire legislature must now be created quickly in order to create planning security for building owners,” he added. “In new construction, we have to be careful not to fall behind current construction practice and create the refurbishment cases of tomorrow,” said Bornholdt.
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