05.09.2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
The worst buildings in terms of energy can be brought to an annual energy demand below 250 kWh per square meter for a few thousand to 15,000 euros, according to Deneff.
How deep do homeowners have to dig into their pockets for the "MEPS"? At the Minimum Energy Performance Standards for the redevelopment of the energetically worst buildings in the European Union heat up the minds. The costs of meeting such contemplated standards are estimated very differently. Recently, sums in the six-digit range have been reported "that would be incurred as a result of an allegedly planned EU obligation to carry out comprehensive refurbishment, including heating replacement," complains the German Energy Efficiency Initiative, Deneff. It considers EU reorganization defaults for "presumably favorably fulfillable" and presents in addition now a study.
From the paper, which compiled the consulting firm Guidehouse on behalf of the Deneff, it results that a model single-family dwelling with pitched roof from the Nachkriegszeit for some thousand to 15,000 euro - depending upon measures - on an energy requirement level under 250 kWh/m2a could be brought. The house was simulated once with a heated and once with an unheated attic. Already in the costs with both variants the national subsidy is calculated.
Inblow-in insulation as favorable solution
As economic measures the study authors emphasize for instance the optimization of the heating adjustment and heat distribution as well as the blow-in insulation with external walls, roofs and cellar covers. According to Deneff, around 29 percent of these buildings in this country have a double-shell masonry, so that the exterior walls come into question for blow-in insulation.
If two measures are combined, for example exterior wall blow-in insulation and heating optimization (costs: 6,700 to 14,500 euros) or insulation of exterior wall plus top floor ceiling (costs: 4,300 to 6,200 euros), an energy requirement of 208 to 227 kWh/m2a can be achieved. For orientation: according to the EU's considerations, single- and two-family houses would be affected by the MEPS where the demand exceeds 250 kWh/m2a. This value marks the border between the energy efficiency classes G and H.
In the case of only one measure, according to the model calculation, the energy demand of the building drops to values between 214 and 238 kWh/m2a. The experts estimate the costs for a blow-in insulation of the external wall at 2,000 to 6,100 euro. A blowing in insulation at the roof strikes with 2,700 to 5,200 euro to account.
Two flies with a flap?
As potential solution one sees beyond that the exchange of the heating: Also alone the installation of an air heat pump would lead the building presumably from the "worst-performing-area", is called it. Who renews thus the heating and so the future 65-percent-renewable-heat-requirement from the heating law fulfills, "kills two birds with one stone". The EU requirements do not impose any additional renovation obligations on homeowners. The costs "after national promotion" for an air heat pump give the study authors with 24,000 to 30,000 euro.
Deneff executive committee Christian Noll appeals to the Federal Government to use itself on European Union level for MEPS. Also nationally the introduction should be prepared briskly, he says. "In order to provide relief in times of rising energy and CO2 prices precisely where energy costs are particularly painful - i.e. for people living in buildings with unnecessarily high consumption costs - the German government must create minimum standards now," says Noll. In addition, early implementation and climate-target-compatible retrofits must be sufficiently promoted and financing made available to all.
The Deneff makes the study available for download on its website: Outlook on potential MEPS-compliant measures for single-family homes in Germany
Author: Manfred Fischer
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