First serial refurbishment in Saxony-Anhalt
Pilot project #Energiesprong in Merseburg
In Merseburg, Saxony-Anhalt, a pioneering pilot project has been launched that marks the future of building refurbishment. The apartment building, built in 1958, is being comprehensively modernized in terms of energy efficiency as part of the first serial refurbishment in the state. With the innovative Energiesprong approach and an investment sum of 4.375 million euros, TAG Immobilien AG and its construction partner Ecoworks are focusing on efficiency, cost reduction and climate protection.
The residential building in Merseburg is exemplary for many houses in Saxony-Anhalt: around half of the city’s housing stock dates from the period between the 1950s and 1970s. However, the renovation rate in Germany was just 0.7% in the first half of 2024. At the same time, around one in ten apartments in the federal state is vacant. To meet these challenges, comprehensive modernization is needed that can be carried out quickly and efficiently.
The projectHow serial refurbishment works
Year of construction
1958
Building type
Multi-family house
Number of floors
4
Residential units
27
Energy consumption
180kWh/m² per year
The project in Merseburg relies on prefabricated modules and digital technologies to shorten the construction time while achieving the highest efficiency standards. A 3D scan of the building forms the basis for the prefabrication of the façade modules, which are later assembled on site. The modules consist of modern fiber cement cladding, which not only serves as thermal insulation, but also integrates the drinking water supply into the façade.
Other measures of the project:
These comprehensive refurbishments halve the energy consumption of the KfW 55 efficiency house from the previous 180 kWh/m²a. This leads to a 50% saving in thermal energy and a corresponding reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Advantages of serial refurbishmentAn innovative renovation approach with a future
The advantages of serial renovation are obvious: the prefabricated modules significantly reduce the construction time, as 80% of the added value is shifted from the construction site to the factory. This means that between 10 and 12 modules per day can be attached to the house facade in no time at all, without the need for scaffolding. During the renovation phase, residents can stay in their homes without any major disruption. At the same time, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly lowered and the building’s energy consumption is reduced in the long term. The costs for refurbishment and housing construction as a whole are also reduced, creating affordable living space.
Another plus point is the modular principle, which makes it possible to renovate similar buildings more quickly and cost-effectively in the future. The façade appearance can be decided individually depending on the project.
Incidentally, more than 7,200 residential units across Germany are already benefiting from the KfW SerSan bonus, which promotes serial refurbishment.
The pilot project in Merseburg represents a milestone in the decarbonization of the building sector. It shows that energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings is the “supreme discipline” of building modernization. The combination of modern technology, prefabricated construction elements and sustainable concepts offers a forward-looking way to make existing buildings in Germany climate-friendly and future-proof.