Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings – Climate-Friendly New Construction (KFN) – Non-Residential Buildings
Loans for the new construction and initial acquisition of climate-friendly non-residential buildings in Germany with up to 100% funding rate. Applications are continuously processed through your local bank, subject to available budget funds.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Promotion of the new construction and initial acquisition of climate-friendly non-residential buildings according to Efficiency Building Level 40, optionally with the Sustainable Building Quality Seal (QNG), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle and to increase energy efficiency in the building sector.
Eligible expenses
- Building costs
- Costs for specialist planning and construction supervision services (including life cycle analysis and certification)
- Own contributions
- Incidental costs for acquisition and construction
- Fees for sustainability certification
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of real estate
- Debt restructuring and refinancing of completed projects
- Remunerated and other asset transfers and their circumventions
- Projects excluded by KfW
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
- Companies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
Funding requirements
- First acquisition within 12 months after construction acceptance
- Implementation of the project in Germany
- Compliance with applicable environmental and social legal requirements and standards
- Use of the building for its intended purpose for at least 10 years
- Involvement of an energy efficiency expert from the expert list
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Documents required for application
- Project description
- Cost and financing plan
- commercial confirmation for the application (gBzA)
- proof of involvement of energy efficiency experts
- QNG certificate (if applicable level)
- commercial confirmation after implementation (gBnD)
Evaluation criteria
- Achievement of Efficiency Building Level 40
- Compliance with the QNG Standard
- Involvement of qualified energy efficiency and sustainability experts
- Availability of budgetary funds
Description
Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings – Climate-Friendly New Construction (KFN) – Non-Residential Buildings supports the new construction and initial acquisition of climate-friendly non-residential buildings throughout Germany. As an interest-subsidized loan with up to 100% funding rate (maximum €10 million or up to €15 million upon achieving the Sustainable Building Quality Seal), the measure targets investors of all types – from private individuals to companies, municipal institutions, and non-profit organizations and associations. Funded projects must meet the Efficiency Building Standard 40, optionally supplemented by the Sustainable Building Quality Seal (QNG) for further greenhouse gas reduction. The program duration is up to 48 months, and applications can be submitted at any time through the applicant’s house bank, subject to available budgetary funds.
Eligible applicants must implement the project in Germany while complying with environmental and social standards. A minimum ten-year use of the building is also a prerequisite, as is the involvement of qualified energy efficiency experts from the official expert list. For QNG projects, cooperation with QNG sustainability consultants and an accredited certification body is additionally required. Eligible expenses include construction costs, specialist planning and construction supervision services (including life cycle analysis and certification), own contributions, ancillary acquisition costs, and fees for sustainability certification. Excluded are, among others, land acquisition, refinancing, and follow-up financing of already completed projects. Required documentation such as project description, cost and financing plan, as well as commercial confirmations (gBzA and gBnD) are submitted as part of the application via the house bank, which forwards the application to KfW and accompanies the funding decision.
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