ᐅ Smart Home Incentives Update 02/2020

Don’t get me wrong: everyone should benefit from the subsidies they are granted, but to be honest, the whole concept of providing funding for new construction is really nonsensical. Instead, minimum legal standards for energy efficiency could be set, and that would be it. Why use public funds to push the technological sophistication of new buildings to the extreme? It would be better to invest subsidies in the “revival” of decaying, vacant old buildings in village and town centers. There is a lot collapsing especially in the East right now. It’s a shame. People who build new homes typically have an income well above the minimum level. There’s no need to funnel payroll taxes from supermarket cashiers into making sure they install a heat pump with a COP of 4.9 instead of 4.2. If someone wants a heat pump, photovoltaics, KNX, and so on, they should pay for it themselves! Duck and run 😀

berny schrieb:

Don’t get me wrong: Everyone should benefit from the subsidies they are granted, but overall, the entire funding of new construction measures is really nonsense. Instead, minimum legal requirements for energy efficiency could be established, and that would be enough. Why should taxpayers’ money push the technical refinement of new buildings to the extreme? It would be better to invest the funding in the “revitalization” of deteriorating, vacant older buildings in village and town centers. A lot of that is collapsing in the East right now. Such a shame. People building new homes usually have incomes well above the minimum level. You don’t need to funnel payroll tax from supermarket cashiers into helping them install a heat pump with a COP of 4.9 instead of 4.2. If someone wants a heat pump, solar panels, KNX smart home systems, etc., they should pay for it themselves! Duck and run 😀

Don’t get me wrong, but please start a separate thread for such a complex topic. You could also directly include child benefits, child tax credits, inheritance tax, free monthly public transport passes, and much more.
And this is not a value judgment, just a request.

Tarnari schrieb:

But one question, even though it doesn’t change anything now. Why did you have to or did you upload invoices? You only need to upload the table with the amounts, invoice numbers, etc., along with the proof from the plumber and, in our case, for the drilling.
BAFA never asked to see the detailed electrician’s invoice for us. I had asked him to combine the relevant KNX components into one item, which he did under the category “renewable energy.” I entered that amount, invoice number, date, item, payment date, and that was it.
You are asked via a list what documents to upload. I didn’t have to upload a single invoice. Was it different for you?

Well, I can’t say for sure. Our energy consultant submitted the application and requested all these data and apparently uploaded them. However, I don’t understand why exactly this selection of eligible costs was made…

Notstrom schrieb:

Well, I can’t really tell you for sure. Our energy consultant submitted the application and requested all the data, then apparently uploaded it. However, why exactly this selection of eligibility was made is unclear to me…

Oh wow. I see, so you didn’t submit the application yourself but authorized someone else to do it? Which is possible in the application, right?
That probably didn’t go very well. Usually, you don’t need to provide any detailed information in the proof, only what is specifically requested. I guess the consultant uploaded the invoices, the caseworker reviewed them, didn’t understand, and then rejected the application. Pure speculation, though.
We listed all the actuators for external blinds/roller shutters, motion sensors/presence detectors, reed contacts, MDT glass push buttons, weather station, etc., including parameter settings, about €15,000 (around $16,000) gross, but only provided the basic invoice details since additional info was not required in the proof.

Tarnari schrieb:

But one question, even though it doesn’t change anything now. Why did you have to upload invoices? You’re only supposed to upload the table with the amounts, invoice numbers, etc., along with the certificates from the plumber and, in our case, for the drilling.
The BAFA never asked to see the detailed electrician’s invoice from us. I had asked him to summarize the relevant KNX components in one item; he did that under the category “renewable energy,” and I entered that amount, invoice number, date, item description, and payment date—that was it.
You are prompted by a list specifying what to upload. I didn’t have to upload a single invoice. Was it different for you?

Did the plumbing trade list the KNX positions under renewable energy? Or what do you mean by that?

AllThumbs schrieb:

Has the plumbing trade listed the KNX items under renewable energies? Or what do you mean by that?

No. I asked the electrician to group the items I consider eligible for subsidies in the invoice to make it easier for BAFA.