Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control)

The BAFA – Sanierung Nichtwohngebäude is a grant-based component of the Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude (BEG) for non-residential buildings, administered by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). Non-residential buildings are defined as any building used at least 50% for non-residential purposes, including office buildings, commercial and agricultural premises, hospitals, schools, universities, sports facilities, theatres, and churches. The programme provides non-repayable grants to create economic incentives for energy-efficient measures, with the dual aim of significantly reducing CO₂ emissions and permanently lowering operating costs. Eligible measures cover a broad range of interventions, including improvements to the building envelope, heating system upgrades based on renewable energy sources, building automation, and heating system optimisation.

Eligible applicants include all investors in non-residential buildings, such as property owners, contractors, companies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities. If the applicant is not the building owner, the owner must be informed before the application is submitted about the use of the funding and the maximum eligible amount, and must confirm compliance with the associated obligations, including the usage requirement and notification duties in the event of a change of ownership. On the technical side, the engagement of a certified energy efficiency expert (Energieeffizienz-Experte) is mandatory for the application BAFA, and for heating system measures, the installation must ensure that at least 65% of heat generation comes from compliant renewable energy sources after completion.