Number of the month of August: 65 percent

One issue that is of great concern to all current and future property owners is the energy-efficient renovation of their real estate. Around half of all German buildings were constructed before 1979, when thermal insulation regulations were still a distant prospect. Even though many buildings have been retrofitted, the proportion of buildings with uninsulated facades is still 65 percent.

The latter was revealed by an estimate from the Federation of German Industries (BDI) . Given the German government's desire to accelerate the energy transition, the renovation of uninsulated buildings remains a highly topical issue.

When the cost of renovation exceeds the purchase of a new property, and demolition is the only option, something else remains: construction debris. This leads some to ask: Couldn't this be used for new construction?

To answer this question, the environmental consulting institute EPEA commissioned to investigate the extent to which the rubble from a Munich building complex dating from the 1950s can be reused in the construction of a new building. Additionally, the study will examine which building materials are suitable for resale and whether any can be returned to the manufacturer.

Since the definition of waste also needs to be redefined so that materials like concrete or stone can be used effectively in building construction in addition to road construction, a new construction waste law is in the pipeline. The outline document is expected to be drafted in August 2023, followed by the draft bill. Furthermore, a digital resource passport is planned: this will allow the building materials used in a new construction project to be recorded, thus fundamentally simplifying subsequent recycling.

Since roughly half of Germany's waste comes from the construction sector, the reuse and recycling of building materials is also of interest to the industry itself. Disrupted supply chains and the resulting shortage of building materials have been key factors in this. We eagerly await the day we open the doors to the first house built from construction waste. The first steps in that direction have already been taken.

Are you looking for support with renovations before selling or after buying a property? Contact us! We'd be happy to advise you.

Notes

For the sake of readability, this text uses the generic masculine form. Female and other gender identities are explicitly included where relevant to the statement.

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice for any specific case. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your individual situation.

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