Apply for a loan with a repayment subsidy for the energy-efficient renovation of commercial buildings

If you invest in the energy-efficient refurbishment of commercial buildings, you can apply for a loan with a repayment subsidy under certain conditions.

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) funds measures to increase energy efficiency.
You can get a loan of up to EUR 25 million for the following measures:

• energy retrofit of commercial buildings in accordance with the requirements of the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV).

You also receive funding for measures to prepare, implement, and commission the funded measure, such as ancillary work or planning costs.

You will not receive funding:

• if you do not use the building exclusively for commercial purposes (for example, if you also live there),
• if you rent or lease the building for residential purposes,
• for holiday homes and apartments,
• for commercial buildings used primarily for agriculture,
• for the costs of a heat generator based on the energy source oil,
• if you have already started the measure before submitting the application.

For energy-efficient buildings, there is a benchmark: the KfW efficiency building standard. The lower the number, the more efficient your building is and the less energy you need. The following standards are subsidized:

• KfW Efficiency House 70,
• KfW Efficiency House 55,
• KfW Efficiency House Monument.

The amount of the repayment grant depends on the KfW efficiency building standard of your measure:

• KfW Efficiency House 70: You receive a repayment subsidy of 27.5 percent of the loan amount. You can receive a maximum of EUR 275 in repayment subsidies for every square meter of renovated net floor area.
   
• KfW Efficiency House 50: You will receive a repayment subsidy of 20 percent of the loan amount. You can receive a maximum of EUR 200 in repayment subsidies for each square meter of renovated net floor area.
   
• KfW Efficiency Monument: You will receive a repayment subsidy of 17.5 percent of the loan amount. You can receive a maximum of EUR 175 in repayment subsidies for every square meter of renovated net floor space.

You will only receive the repayment grant once you have completed your project and proven its implementation to KfW. To do this, you must prove:

• that you have used the money for the applied-for measure,
• that you have achieved the KfW Efficiency House standard.

You must keep all invoices and receipts related to the eligible costs.

The KfW banking group processes the funding applications.

You are not entitled to the approval of the funding.

You must submit your application through a financing partner.

• Plan your measure with an energy efficiency expert. Find an energy efficiency expert near you on the website of the German Energy Agency (dena).
• Complete the confirmation for the application online – preferably together with your expert.
• Talk to your financing partner (for example, the bank where you intend to take out your financing) about integrating a promotional loan. They will advise you on which documents are required for this and submit the application to KfW on your behalf.
• Once KfW has approved your funding application, you conclude a loan agreement with your financing partner.
• As soon as you receive confirmation of your funding, you can begin construction or sign the purchase agreement.
• Depending on the construction progress, your financing partner will disburse the loan to you in a lump sum or in installments.
• Once you have completed the measure, you must prove to your financing partner,
  • that you used the money from the loan for the planned measure and
  • that your measure meets the standard for KfW Efficiency Houses.
• Your financing partner reviews and confirms your documentation and forwards it to KfW.
• If the KfW has also reviewed the documentation, you will receive the repayment subsidy as a credit to your loan account. This will shorten your loan term.

Note:
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for additional grants from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) for consulting services provided by an energy efficiency expert.

• Application: before the start of the measure
• Loan drawdown period: within 12 months of loan approval, an extension to a maximum of 36 months is possible.
• Commitment fee: You do not pay a commitment fee for the first 12 months after approval.
• Proof of use of funds: within 15 months after full disbursement of the loan

• Cancelled