The system at a glance

Imprints

Sustainable Building Quality Seal Plus · Sustainable Building Quality Seal Premium

Areas of application

Residential building seal variant · Non-residential building seal variant

System provider and certification body

System provider: Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB)

Testing body: four accredited supporting systems verify conformity: DGNB, NaWoh, BiRN, and the Steinbeis-Transfer-Institut Bau- und Immobilienwirtschaft (STI BWI)

Validity

unlimited

Classification

The QNG seal is not an independent assessment system but builds upon a recognized building certification. Four supporting systems are accredited for this: DGNB, NaWoh, BiRN, and the Steinbeis-Transfer-Institut Bau- und Immobilienwirtschaft. Which one suits your project depends on the building type, the desired level of effort, and what you want to achieve with the certificate beyond the funding.

Sustainability is assessed over the entire life cycle of the building, across two requirement levels and two seal variants for residential and non-residential buildings. The economic leverage lies in the funding, which is based on a KfW loan.

Here, the advantage can be quantified in euros

Higher eligible loan volume

For residential buildings, this increases to up to 150,000 euros per residential unit. That is 50,000 euros more than for a highly energy-efficient building funded without the seal. For non-residential buildings, the limit is 15 million euros per project.

Subsidy bonus for renovations

The certificate provides an additional 5 percent subsidy in the sustainability class.

Lower operating costs

A portion of the funding goes toward the future-proofing of the property, such as systems for generating renewable or low-carbon energy. This permanently reduces secondary rental costs.

Resale value

The same investments pay off at the exit. What lowers operating costs today becomes a selling point tomorrow.

When a different system is a better fit

The funding conditions require a KfW loan. If you are not taking out a loan—for example, because you are financing through insurance contributions—or if your local bank offers better terms than the KfW, the economic leverage is lost, and with it, the reason for the seal. We clarify whether the effort is worthwhile beforehand, not in the middle of the process.

The second hurdle is the CO2 limit. For residential buildings, it is a maximum of 24 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per square meter per year; for non-residential buildings, it is calculated via the GEG or GModG verification. Because tenant electricity is factored in at a fixed rate, the target is only achievable if a significant amount of renewable energy is generated on-site or if the construction is low-carbon. This assessment determines whether the process even begins.

The path to certification

Project check

Is the funding worth it for you, does your design meet the CO2 limit, and which support system is the right fit?

Strategy

Goals and roadmap up to the KfW application, confirmation for the application (BzA), and funding approval

Measures

Life cycle assessments, material ecological audits, dismantling and recycling concepts, and support during planning and construction

Certificate

Documentation up to conformity assessment, followed by confirmation after implementation (BnD) and funding closure

Duration

Until submission

Single-family homes up to 2 years, consisting of approximately one year of planning and one year of construction time

Multi-family homes, serial housing, and non-residential buildings up to 5-6 years, consisting of approximately 3 years of planning and 2-3 years of construction time

depending on the size of the property

Completion to certification

around 6 months

What we handle

Full-process auditing

Checking the CO2 limit as the first step in the process

Calculating the costs and benefits of funding in the analysis

Am Seestern 1, Düsseldorf

View reference

approx. 69,800

QM GFA

BREEAM In-Use

System

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the investment pay off despite the additional fees in cost group 700 and potentially higher construction costs?

If you are taking out a loan and the KfW terms are better than those of your local bank: yes. A portion of the funding goes toward the future viability of the property, such as systems for generating renewable or low-carbon energy. This lowers long-term operating costs and increases resale value. We will run the numbers in our analysis before you commit.

How do we register for QNG certification, and who else do we need on our team?

The KfW loan is applied for by an energy efficiency expert on behalf of the building owner. At the same time, the auditor registers the project regarding QNG requirements. Both roles can be filled by the same person or company, but this is not required.

What are the most common reasons for application failure?

At the CO2 limit. For residential buildings, this is a maximum of 24 kilograms of CO2 equivalents per square meter per year. For non-residential buildings, it cannot be stated as a fixed value but is calculated via GEG or GModG certification. Since tenant electricity is factored in at a fixed rate, compliance is only possible if the share of renewable energy generated on-site is high or the construction is low-carbon. This assessment is the first step and determines whether you proceed with the process.