Energy advisor
1. What is an energy consultant?
An energy consultant is an independent expert on building energy. They examine heating, insulation, windows and ventilation and calculate a building’s energy balance.
From this, they develop a refurbishment plan, produce energy performance certificates and support construction projects on site. The most important service is called an individual refurbishment roadmap, or iSFP for short.
For most federal funding schemes, an energy consultant is mandatory. The consultant must be listed in the Federal Government’s Energieeffizienz-Experten-Liste. Without this listing, there is no iSFP bonus and no funding for construction supervision.
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2. When you need an energy consultant
An energy consultant is mandatory or advisable in the following cases:
- For the individual refurbishment roadmap (iSFP) under the EBW guideline (Energieberatung für Wohngebäude).
- For the KfW heating funding (Programme 458) when replacing your heating system.
- For the BAFA individual measures for insulation, windows and ventilation.
- For construction supervision for larger refurbishments.
- For the demand-oriented energy performance certificate when selling or for a new letting.
- For evidence required under the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG).
3. Qualifications and BAFA list
Not everyone is allowed to offer funded consultations. The Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA) maintains the Energieeffizienz-Experten-Liste, or EEE list for short.
Only listed consultants may support BEG and EBW applications. The Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) operates the website for the expert search on behalf of BAFA and checks qualifications for the list.
Typical professional backgrounds include architects, civil engineers and master craftspeople with the additional qualification Gebäudeenergieberater HWK. The list can be filtered by postcode and building type.
To the expert list: energie-effizienz-experten.de
4. The two most important authorities for funding
Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA)
BAFA pays grants for energy advice (EBW) and for individual measures (BEG EM). It works with dena on the expert list.
Contact Energy advice for residential buildings (EBW): 06196 908-1880 (Mon to Fri, 8:00 to 18:00).
Contact Federal funding for efficient buildings (BEG, including individual measures/construction supervision): 06196 908-1625 (Mon to Fri, 8:00 to 18:00).
BAFA Energy advice residential buildings
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW)
KfW funds heating replacement (Programme 458) and refurbishments to an Effizienzhaus (Programmes 261 and 262). It provides grants and loans with repayment grants.
Infocentre Housing Industry: 0800 539 9002, free of charge.
5. Funding at a glance
The funding combines two routes. BAFA pays for the advice itself as well as individual measures to the building envelope. KfW pays for heating replacement and larger refurbishments to an Effizienzhaus.
Important: Always submit the funding application before placing the order or before the start of the project. Without an application before the binding contract with a suspensive or resolutory condition, there is no funding.
The following information applies since the BEG reform of 21 July 2026.
Energieberatung für Wohngebäude (EBW)
BAFA funds the energy advice itself. The result is usually an iSFP. The funding programme is officially called Energieberatung für Wohngebäude (EBW). Do not confuse it with Bundesförderung für effiziente Wärmenetze (BEW). That is a separate programme for district heating networks.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Funding rate | 50 per cent of the eligible consultancy fee |
| Maximum grant for a one- or two-family house | 650 EUR |
| Maximum grant for residential buildings with 3 W housing units or more | 850 EUR |
| Additional grant for WEG when presenting the iSFP | 250 EUR one-off |
| Requirement | Entry in the Energieeffizienz-Experten-Liste |
iSFP bonus on refurbishment measures (BEG individual measures)
Anyone with a funded iSFP receives a bonus of 5 percentage points on later individual measures to the building envelope (e.g. insulation, windows). This increases the basic funding from 15 to 20 per cent. With iSFP, the eligible costs also increase from 30.000 to 60.000 EUR per housing unit.
Since 21 July 2026, BAFA has only granted the iSFP bonus if the eligible investment volume is at least 30.000 EUR. The bonus then applies only to the amount above this threshold.
Example: Insulation costs 50.000 EUR. Without iSFP, BAFA pays 15 per cent funding, which is 7.500 EUR. Your own contribution is 42.500 EUR. With iSFP, 5 per cent bonus is added on the 20.000 EUR above the 30.000-euro threshold, which is 1.000 EUR. In total, BAFA then pays 8.500 EUR. Your own contribution falls to 41.500 EUR.
Construction supervision (BEG EM)
BAFA also funds supervision by the energy consultant on the building site. The construction supervision ensures that the tradespeople implement the measures correctly.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Funding rate | 50 per cent of the construction supervision costs |
| Eligible costs for a detached house | 5.000 EUR |
| Maximum grant for a detached house | 2.500 EUR |
| Eligible costs per housing unit (MFH) | 2.000 EUR |
| Maximum grant per housing unit (MFH) | 1.000 EUR |
| Grant cap for the whole multi-family house | 10.000 EUR |
| Requirement | BAFA-listed energy efficiency expert |
KfW heating funding (Programme 458)
KfW supports replacing heating systems with renewable energy. The Energieberater or the specialist company confirms eligibility for funding. KfW reformed the funding rates as of 21.07.2026.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Basic grant for heating replacement | 30 percent |
| Climate speed bonus | 16 percent |
| Income bonus (up to 30.000 EUR annual income) | 40 percent |
| Income bonus (up to 40.000 EUR) | 30 percent |
| Income bonus (up to 50.000 EUR) | 10 percent |
| Family allowance | 10.000 EUR one-off |
| Overall funding cap | 70 percent, 80 percent in individual cases |
| Eligible costs for the first dwelling unit | 28.000 EUR |
The climate speed bonus falls from 1 February 2027 by 4 percentage points every six months.
The family allowance applies to households with at least one minor child. It reduces the assessed income once by 10.000 EUR. This means the income bonus tiers effectively apply up to 40.000, 50.000 or 60.000 EUR annual income.
The overall funding cap is 70 percent. Households with an annual income up to 30.000 EUR can reach up to 80 percent, even without the family allowance.
For the second to sixth dwelling unit, 15.000 EUR eligible costs apply per unit. From the seventh dwelling unit, 8.000 EUR applies per unit. All amounts fall from 1 February 2027 by 750 EUR every six months.
The previous efficiency bonus for heat pumps (5 percent) has been discontinued since 21.07.2026.
6. Typical costs and own contribution
The following ranges are nationwide empirical values (gross, before funding) and refer to EBW funding (50 %, capped).
| Service | Gross costs | Funding | Own contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| iSFP single-family house | 1.400 to 2.000 EUR | 50 %, max. 650 EUR | 750 to 1.350 EUR |
| iSFP two-family house | 1.600 to 2.200 EUR | 50 %, max. 650 EUR | 950 to 1.550 EUR |
| iSFP multi-family house (from 3 W units) | 2.500 to 4.500 EUR | 50 %, max. 850 EUR | 1.650 to 3.650 EUR |
| Energy Performance Certificate, consumption | 80 to 200 EUR | none | full |
| Energy Performance Certificate, demand | 300 to 500 EUR | none | full |
| Construction supervision, individual measure | 1.500 to 5.000 EUR | 50 %, max. 2.500 EUR | 750 to 2.500 EUR |
| Construction supervision, Effizienzhaus | 4.000 to 10.000 EUR | 50 %, max. 5.000 EUR | 2.000 to 5.000 EUR |
| Hourly rate, one-off consultation | 80 to 150 EUR net | none | full |
7. How to find and commission an Energieberater
- Check the experts list at energie-effizienz-experten.de. Filter by your postcode and by building type.
- Obtain at least two quotes. Compare the scope of services and hourly rate.
- Submit the BAFA application before commissioning. The application is submitted online via the BAFA portal.
- Wait for the grant notice. Only then commission the adviser.
- Have the iSFP prepared. Use the iSFP bonus within 15 Jahren for refurbishment measures.
The order is crucial. Placing an order before applying for funding rules out funding.
8. Frequently asked questions
Do I need a listed adviser for every Energy Performance Certificate?
No. The simple consumption-based certificate can also be issued by an Energieberater without BAFA listing. The demand-based certificate requires a qualification under § 88 GEG.
How much does an iSFP cost me net?
For a single-family house, the own contribution is about 750 to 1.350 EUR. BAFA pays 50 percent of the costs, up to a maximum of 650 EUR.
Is the Verbraucherzentrale an alternative?
The Verbraucherzentrale offers a free basic check as well as more in-depth checks (e.g. building or heating check) for around 30 EUR and provides support in finding suitable funding programmes. However, it may only carry out energy advice funded under EBW/BEG with iSFP if the advising Energieberater is entered in the Energieeffizienz-Experten-Liste.
Can I combine KfW and BAFA funding?
Yes, for different measures. For the same measure, only one programme is possible (BAFA or KfW). The Energieberater also plans the sequence.
What happens if I place the order before applying for funding?
You then lose the entire funding for this measure. Always submit the application first.
How long does processing my funding application take?
Processing applications via the BAFA portal currently takes about two weeks. How long the actual on-site consultation including documentation takes depends on the Energieberater you choose and the scope of the consultation.
Note on how up to date this is
The Federal Government reformed the Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude as of 21.07.2026. Funding rates, maximum amounts and bonuses continue to change regularly (including stepwise reductions from February 2027). Before applying, check the current terms and conditions at bafa.de and kfw.de/458. The information does not replace individual advice.