Does building renovation bring benefits - and if so, what are they? If you want to find out about the benefits of modernizing old houses and apartments, you've come to the right place! The building stock from the 1930s to 1970s with its old buildings is considered a climate-damaging energy guzzler. By 2030, therefore, all new buildings must be constructed and operated in a climate-neutral manner - and from 2050, every building in the EU should even be climate-neutral.₁ Accordingly, structural defects and damage must be eliminated, and walls, facades, windows, roofs, balconies and basements must be brought up to date.
Of course, professional refurbishment of older buildings may seem complex and expensive in the short term - but on closer inspection it pays off in the medium or long term. And this is true both for the environment and health, but above all for your own wallet.
Whether you're an owner or a resident, in this article I'll introduce you to the most important reasons and benefits of energy-efficient building renovation. Let's go!
Here you can find a short overview in advance:
- Protect the environment
- Reduce heating costs
- Benefit from lower maintenance requirements
- Take advantage of government subsidies
- Increase real estate value
- Improve rentability
- Increase living comfort
- Become more independent
- Increase tenant satisfaction
- Minimize health risks and hazards
1. protect environment
By installing a heating system with Ground source heat pump in combination with a solar thermal system, through the installation of heat-retaining Facade and roof insulation and more modern, double or triple glazed window systemsyou save the environment. The more energy-efficient building is heated with the help of renewable energy and the heat is less likely to escape to the outside.
Conserve natural resourcesminimizing CO2 consumption and living as climate-friendly and future-oriented a life as possible are among the main reasons why many people decide to renovate their buildings.
2. reduce heating costs
Why renovate for energy efficiency? Not only because you can counteract climate change, but also because you can save your own wallet. After all, measures for climate protection and in the sense of the energy turnaround can only be successfully implemented if they are also are socially acceptable and generally accepted be.₂
By replacing windows, for example, heating costs can be reduced by up to 20 percent. Insulating the facade or installing a solar thermal system can also achieve this beneficial value.₃ The Reduction of expenses for electricity and heat is one of the main reasons for most people to make energy-efficient renovations. Even if the investment is more expensive in the short term and the payback periods vary between 5 and 20 years depending on the measure, it is worthwhile in the long term.
3. take advantage of government subsidies
It makes sense that many measures for energy-efficient refurbishment are subsidized by the state. For example, there are grants for individual measures on the building envelope or for renovation to an efficiency house standard.
However, the subsidies are subject to constant adjustment, which is why I do not want to give you any figures here and advise you to always contact the respective subsidy institutions directly (e.g. the Reconstruction Loan Corporation (KfW) or the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA)) to inform.
4. benefit from lower maintenance requirements
The renovation of old houses and apartments brings them up to the latest technical standards, Increases the economic life and makes them more resistant. Finally, you can also better prevent unruly mold growth or weather-related damage to the facade.
Owners and landlords ultimately benefit from lower repair costs, lower insurance costs and a higher credit rating.
5. increase real estate value
Successful renovation costs money, but also increases the value of the property. Finally, the building is More compatible with future standards and requirements and more appealing to potential tenants. Accordingly, investing in modernization also facilitates resale at the highest possible selling price and, not least, increases potential rental income. As a resident, for example, you benefit from a higher prestige of the apartment.
6. improve rentability
If the Building and the apartment looks more attractive and modern and the energy costs are comparatively very low, a property can also be rented out much more easily and, above all, in the long term. This is ultimately one of the many reasons for building renovation, from which both owners and residents benefit.
7. increase living comfort
Renovated buildings have a better temperature distribution in the roomso that you feel more comfortable even at lower temperatures. Thanks to better thermal insulation, it is also pleasantly cool in summer and a little warmer in winter, as desired - and there is no longer any of the tense drafts of classic old buildings. It should also not be forgotten that a better sound insulation so that both the neighbor and you can be a little louder.
Finally, these renovation and modernization measures lead to a higher quality of living, which again describes an important advantage.
8. become more independent
Nobody knows for sure how, for example, oil, wood or gas prices will develop. But if the building renovation brings advantages, then it must be mentioned that it makes you more independent from price fluctuations and gives you at least a greater cost certainty enables. Infinite, natural resources, such as wind power, solar energy or the heat of the ground are finally available on one's own property.
9. increase tenant satisfaction
Wouldn't you rather live in a property where you don't have to constantly reckon with malfunctions and problems? If the disturbances of the building services or by pending repairs are kept within limits, if houses and apartments, both technically and visually, on a modern level tenants are much more satisfied and stay longer in the rented properties. From the lower fluctuation The owners and landlords also profit from this, of course.
10. minimize health risks and hazards
For example, old buildings can contain harmful wood preservatives - or chipboard can emit formaldehyde. Last but not least, asbestos or toxic adhesives and insulating materials can also pose a risk to residents. As the owner, you are ultimately responsible for preventing hazards and can be held liable in the event of proven damage to health as a result of your negligence.
Apart from this, the healthier indoor climate and improved noise protection ultimately also promote health protection. As you can see, this is a decisive advantage of building renovation.
A multitude of advantages speak in favor of building renovation!
Always consider the repair, modernization and renovation of a property as an investment in the future - from which you yourself, but also other residents and not least the environment will benefit.
The above-mentioned advantages of building renovation should have made you aware that renovating old buildings is worthwhile - in some circumstances it can even be really fun. Sometimes, however, the current CO2 emissions, the final energy demand, the refurbishment costs and the expected increase in value are unmanageable. For clarity, for example this renovation calculatorwhich you should definitely use to help you with your project.
Do you have questions, tips or other motives for a building renovation? Then feel free to write me a comment under this article.
Stay sustainable,
PS.: You want as possible build sustainably? I have also written a detailed blog post with countless tips for you. Feel free to have a look!
References:
₁ Federal Environment Agency: Germany's building stock can become climate neutral by 2050 (as of 03.05.2016), available at https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/deutschlands-gebaeudebestand-kann-bis-2050 [08.11.2022].
₂ Umweltbundesamt: Klimaschutz und Energiewende sozialverträglich gestalten (Stand: 03.06.2020), available at https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/klimaschutz-energiewende-sozialvertraeglich. [08.11.2022].
₃ P. Kloth: Energetische Sanierung - Vorteile, Kosten und Förderung, available at https://www.energieheld.de/foerderung/energetische-sanierung. [08.11.2022].
