The Individual Renovation Roadmap (iSFP): What does it contain, who benefits from it and who issues it?

Initial situation: 40 percent of energy consumption in the residential sector

Background: Around 40 percent of total energy consumption in Germany is accounted for by the residential sector. Within the meaning of the Federal Government’s climate strategy, which provides that all residential buildings should be climate-neutral by 2050, renovation measures that reduce the energy consumption of buildings and the associated CO2 emissions are being promoted. In this context, the individual renovation roadmap (iSFP) was introduced back in 2017.

What is included in the individual renovation roadmap?

With an individual renovation roadmap, property owners gain clear insights into which energy renovation measures will boost their home's energy efficiency, which improvements offer the greatest value appreciation, and what energy cost savings can be achieved. Important to note: an iSFP is non-binding and serves purely as a recommendation. There is no legal obligation to implement any of the suggested measures.

Specifically, the proposed measures in the renovation plan often relate to the following areas:

• Renovation of old heating systems and systems for hot water generation

• Improvement of insulation on walls, ceilings and technical systems

• Options for the use of renewable energies

• Replacement of doors and windows for better thermal insulation

• Development of an energy-efficient ventilation concept

What are advantages of the iSFP?

As the owner of a property, you receive a valuable instrument with the individual renovation roadmap (iSFP), which shows you which renovation measures are sensible and in which order you should, if applicable, carry them out. The iSFP therefore offers you a detailed guide for planning and commissioning the renovation step by step.

The advantages of the iSFP at a glance:

You receive a detailed analysis of the current energy-related condition of your house.

Tailor-made optimisation measures are presented and arranged in a sequence.

The iSFP creates transparency and planning security, because it shows you costs, effort and savings potential.

If an iSFP is available, you benefit from higher state funding.

The iSFP is prepared by certified energy consultants. This ensures that the recommendations are based on sound expertise.

Is the renovation plan obligatory for owners?

An individual renovation roadmap (iSFP) is not legally prescribed. Energy consulting with an iSFP is a voluntary measure that enables you, as the owner of a property, to plan and implement the energy renovation more easily.

An iSFP is valid for 15 years, so you can plan for the long term. You can therefore carefully consider the implementation of measures mentioned in the renovation plan and adapt them to your future life plans and your financing options. Accordingly, preparing an iSFP is a sensible investment for anyone who owns an existing property that is not optimal in energy terms.

Who prepares an iSFP?

An iSFP may only be prepared by qualified energy consultants. At this point, we have summarised tips on how to find an energy consultant. In order to benefit from state funding, it is also important that the energy consultant is entered in the Federal Government’s energy efficiency expert list. Only then is he or she authorised to submit the relevant funding applications. You can find the Federal Government’s energy expert list here.

Process: Ηaving a renovation plan drawn up

If you would like to have an individual renovation roadmap drawn up for your property, this is possible with the following steps:

Find experts: Look for an energy consultant recognised by BAFA (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control) for your project and contact them.

Apply for funding: Via the BAFA portal, you or your energy consultant can apply for grants for energy consulting with a renovation plan.

Survey of the existing situation: Once you have received the funding notice, the energy consultant begins the survey of the existing condition of your property. All the individual circumstances of the building are recorded.

Renovation plan: Based on the actual condition of the property, the energy consultant works out various renovation options and explains them to you.

Completed iSFP: As a rule, you receive your individual renovation roadmap from the energy consultant within a maximum of nine months.

Declaration of proof of use: After receiving the renovation plan, you sign BAFA’s declaration of proof of use and subsequently receive the funding you applied for.

Discounted energy efficiency consulting with our exclusive offer

Or benefit from the cooperation between Engel & Völkers and the energy efficiency consulting company Enter, where only certified consultants are active. This is how it works:

Share house data & documents digitally

On-site appointment at your home

Detailed consultation by telephone (60 min.)

Receive renovation roadmap & more funding

You can find out more here about the exclusive offer as part of our cooperation with the energy efficiency consulting company Enter.