Ist eine Wärmepumpe für das EH40 Pflicht?

Die BEG-Richtlinie schreibt keine bestimmte Heizung vor, sondern nur die Einhaltung der Grenzwerte. In der Praxis ist die Wärmepumpe jedoch die naheliegende Lösung, weil sie den Primärenergiebedarf besonders stark senkt. Alternativen wie Fernwärme aus erneuerbaren Quellen sind grundsätzlich möglich, kommen im Fertighaus-Neubau aber seltener vor (Quelle: BEG-Richtlinie / kfw.de, Stand 2026).

Braucht ein EH40 zwingend eine Lüftungsanlage?

Nicht zwingend, aber sie erleichtert den Nachweis erheblich. Eine Lüftung mit Wärmerückgewinnung senkt die Lüftungswärmeverluste und verbessert damit sowohl den Primärenergiebedarf als auch den Feuchteschutz der luftdichten Hülle. Viele EH40-Fertighäuser sind deshalb serienmäßig damit ausgestattet (Quelle: dena.de, Stand 2026).

Ist Photovoltaik für das EH40 vorgeschrieben?

Eine PV-Anlage ist keine feste Pflicht, hilft aber, den Primärenergie-Grenzwert von 40 % zu erreichen, weil selbst erzeugter Strom rechnerisch angerechnet werden kann. Bei knappen Nachweisen ist PV oft das ausschlaggebende Element. Ob sie nötig ist, hängt vom Gesamtkonzept ab und entscheidet der Energieeffizienz-Experte im Nachweis.

Was kostet die EH40-Anlagentechnik ungefähr?

Als Richtwerte (Stand 2026, je nach Ausführung und Region) bewegen sich Luft-Wasser-Wärmepumpen inklusive Einbindung meist zwischen 20.000 und 35.000 €, eine Lüftungsanlage mit Wärmerückgewinnung zwischen 8.000 und 15.000 € und eine PV-Anlage mit Speicher zwischen 12.000 und 25.000 €. Die Werte sind Spannen und ersetzen kein Angebot; ein Teil der Mehrkosten wird über das zinsgünstige KfW-Darlehen aufgefangen.

Sind die Kosten der Anlagentechnik förderfähig?

Die EH40-Anlagentechnik ist Teil der förderfähigen Baukosten im KfW-Programm Klimafreundlicher Neubau (297/298) und fließt in das zinsgünstige Darlehen ein — nicht in einen separaten Zuschuss. Eine zusätzliche Einzelförderung wie die BAFA-Heizungsförderung greift im Neubau nicht, weil sie auf den Bestand zielt (Quelle: kfw.de / BAFA, Stand 2026).

System Technology in Efficiency House 40

Three components support the EH40 in practice: heat pump, ventilation with heat recovery and photovoltaics. We show their function, their contribution to the verification and benchmark costs as a range (Stand 2026).

Short Answer

What Technology is in the EH40?

The BEG directive does not prescribe a fixed technology but compliance with the limit values. In practice, however, EH40 prefabricated houses almost always combine a heat pump (reduces the primary energy demand), a ventilation system with heat recovery (reduces ventilation losses) and frequently photovoltaics (credits self-generated electricity). Together they reliably achieve the 40% limit value. The specific requirement results from the verification by the energy efficiency expert (source: BEG directive / dena.de, Stand 2026).

Heat Pump

Function: Uses environmental heat from air, soil or groundwater and raises it to heating temperature with electricity. In new builds usually as an air-to-water heat pump for heating and hot water.
Contribution to EH40 Verification: Central lever for the primary energy demand: Because it delivers many times the input electrical energy as heat, it pushes the QP value well below the 40% mark.
Benchmark Costs: Benchmark 20.000 – 35.000 € incl. integration (Stand 2026)

Ventilation with Heat Recovery

Function: Supplies fresh air in a controlled way and removes exhaust air, thereby transferring the heat from the exhaust air to the supply air. Ensures uniform air quality in the airtight envelope.
Contribution to EH40 Verification: Reduces ventilation heat losses and thus improves H'T-related balance values and the primary energy demand. At the same time protects against moisture damage in airtight construction.
Benchmark Costs: Benchmark 8.000 – 15.000 € (Stand 2026)

Photovoltaics

Function: Converts sunlight into electricity that supplies the household and the heat pump. Often combined with a battery storage to increase self-consumption.
Contribution to EH40 Verification: Self-generated electricity is credited in the verification and helps to safely achieve the primary energy limit value of 40% — often the decisive element in tight balances.
Benchmark Costs: Benchmark 12.000 – 25.000 € with storage (Stand 2026)

All cost information is benchmark ranges (Stand 2026), depending on design, region and market situation. They do not replace an individual offer. Source of the technical classification: dena.de.

Interaction instead of individual component

No single component fulfills the EH40 on its own — the interaction of a well-insulated envelope and efficient technology is decisive. We explain the limit values themselves and the distinction from EH55 and GEG on the page on the EH40 Requirements. Whether and to what extent the additional effort pays off through the subsidy can be read under Is KfW 40 Worth It?

The mathematical verification of the technology is carried out by an energy efficiency expert — we describe his tasks and costs under Energy Efficiency Expert & Verification.

Frequently Asked Questions on EH40 Technology

Answers on heat pump, ventilation, photovoltaics and the costs in the Efficiency House 40 (Stand 2026).

Is a heat pump mandatory for the EH40?

The BEG directive does not prescribe a specific heating system but only compliance with the limit values. In practice, however, the heat pump is the obvious solution because it reduces the primary energy demand particularly strongly. Alternatives such as district heating from renewable sources are generally possible but occur less frequently in prefabricated house new builds (source: BEG directive / kfw.de, Stand 2026).

Does an EH40 necessarily need a ventilation system?

Not necessarily, but it significantly facilitates the verification. A ventilation system with heat recovery reduces the ventilation heat losses and thus improves both the primary energy demand and the moisture protection of the airtight envelope. Many EH40 prefabricated houses are therefore equipped with it as standard (source: dena.de, Stand 2026).

Is photovoltaics required for the EH40?

A PV system is not a fixed requirement but helps to achieve the primary energy limit value of 40% because self-generated electricity can be credited in the calculation. In tight verifications, PV is often the decisive element. Whether it is necessary depends on the overall concept and is decided by the energy efficiency expert in the verification.

What does the EH40 system technology cost approximately?

As benchmarks (Stand 2026, depending on design and region) air-to-water heat pumps including integration are usually between 20.000 and 35.000 €, a ventilation system with heat recovery between 8.000 and 15.000 € and a PV system with storage between 12.000 and 25.000 €. The values are ranges and do not replace an offer; part of the additional costs is offset by the low-interest KfW loan.

Are the costs of the system technology eligible for subsidy?

The EH40 system technology is part of the eligible construction costs in the KfW program Climate-Friendly New Build (297/298) and is included in the low-interest loan — not in a separate grant. An additional individual subsidy such as the BAFA heating subsidy does not apply to new builds because it targets existing buildings (source: kfw.de / BAFA, Stand 2026).

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System Technology in Efficiency House 40

What Technology is in the EH40?

Heat Pump

Ventilation with Heat Recovery

Photovoltaics

Interaction instead of individual component

Frequently Asked Questions on EH40 Technology

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