There is no connection between rising construction requirements and energy requirements.

More energy efficiency makes building unaffordable is a prevalent prejudice. On the basis of essential components such as exterior walls, saddle roofs, windows and heating pumps as well as the example of a new building of a semi-detached house, it was analyzed how the costs actually developed between 1990 and 2018 with increased efficiency requirements.

The study commissioned by the German Enterprise Initiative for Energy Efficiency (DENEFF) comes to the conclusion that the investment costs for new buildings have remained almost constant since 1990, while the monthly costs (including energy costs) of current and future planned future standards are even more favorable. The investment costs for aerated concrete walls with higher heat protection are lower than in 1990. The investment costs for sand-lime brick walls with heat insulation systems (ETICS) as well as saddle roofs with high thermal protection have declined, while the average thermal protection has remained approximately the same. Windows today cost nearly the same amount, but offer much more heat protection than 20 years ago. Thanks to their very low current consumption, modern heating pumps also significantly relieve the occupants compared to the conventional models 10 or 20 years ago.

Increase in construction costs corresponds to the general price increase

There is no demonstrable connection between rising construction travels and the energy requirements. The average increase in construction costs corresponds to the general price increase. Inflation-adjusted, the costs for highly efficient components and materials have even declined. This is best shown by the example of windows with three-pane glazing. In the meantime they hardly cost more than standard windows. Increased efficiency requirements made these former future products market standard. In addition, energy-efficient technology is paid for just a few years because of the high energy prices. This is particularly clear with the example of heating pumps.