FAQs

What exactly is serial renovation?

Serial renovation is a modern method for quickly and cost-effectively upgrading existing buildings. Prefabricated façade, roof, and technical modules are produced in factories and then mounted directly onto the building. These modules already include insulation, windows, thermal protection, and ventilation systems, which shortens construction time and improves quality. Serial renovation significantly increases energy efficiency and climate performance, often using renewable heating systems and even achieving a net zero standard. It can also create additional living space, for example through new balconies or additional stories on top of existing buildings.

Which buildings are suitable for serial renovation?

Our approach is particularly well suited for apartment buildings from the 1950s to the 1980s with three to five floors. The method works best for buildings with simple, repetitive shapes without complex bays, recesses, or curves. Repetitive layouts and identical window openings across floors allow for maximum standardization of façade elements. Entire neighborhoods with homogeneous structures offer the ideal conditions to scale projects efficiently and reduce per-unit costs.

From an energy perspective, buildings with low ratings (G–H, in some cases D–F) are especially good candidates, because they can be upgraded to climate-friendly standards in an economical and efficient way.

‍

How long does an ecoworks serial renovation last?

Our solutions are designed for maximum durability. With high-quality materials, industrial prefabrication, and precise installation, the lifespan of a renovated building can be extended by 70 to 100 years. The façade and roof modules, along with the building technology we use, are low-maintenance and meet the highest quality standards.

What advantages does serial renovation have compared to traditional renovation?

Serial renovation features a high degree of prefabrication—up to 80 percent—done in the factory. This increases the availability of building elements and reduces the shortage of skilled labor on site. Construction times are much shorter because the process is product-centered and requires less manual work on the building itself. At the same time, tenants experience less disruption, since most of the work happens on the outside and building interventions are kept to a minimum.

At ecoworks, we continuously invest in research and development, often supported by public funding, to deliver innovative and more efficient solutions. Another key advantage is industrial cost reduction: the more elements are produced, the lower the unit cost. In traditional renovation, costs often rise due to manual work and limited resources.

‍

What government funding is available?

Federal, state, and local programs offer various funding options, often linked to rent regulations or social housing quotas. On the federal level, subsidized loans and repayment grants are available (for example, KfW 261), alongside the federal "BEG" program, which offers a special serial renovation bonus (from Efficiency House 55 level). Using prefabricated façade or roof modules qualifies for a 15% bonus on eligible renovation costs. This can be combined with additional bonuses, such as the Renewable Energy Class (EE), Sustainability Class (NH), or the bonus for renovating a "Worst Performing Building" (WPB). In total, subsidies can cover up to 45% of eligible costs in the form of repayment grants.

As a turnkey provider, ecoworks supports clients in navigating and applying for these complex funding programs.

What does the serial renovation system include?

The ecoworks serial renovation system integrates several core components:

Façade elements: Prefabricated, highly insulated timber-frame modules that include triple-glazed windows, external sun shading (often electrically controlled), and decentralized ventilation units with heat recovery. A unique feature is the "backpacker shaft," which carries new supply lines for heating, water, and electricity along the façade. This avoids tenant disruption and eliminates the need for invasive pipe replacements inside apartments.
Roof elements: Similarly prefabricated roof modules enable quick, weather-independent roof replacement and are pre-fitted for easy photovoltaic system installation.
Energy system: At the heart of the renovation is the replacement of fossil-fuel heating systems with a high-efficiency central air-to-water heat pump, powered by the PV system on the roof.

Additional upgrades: To further improve efficiency, basement ceilings are typically insulated to reduce heat loss to unheated areas.

How does the business case compare to conventional renovation?

The business case for serial renovation goes far beyond cost calculation and rests on four key points:

Substantial government subsidies lower net investment to about the same level as conventional renovation, while achieving higher energy standards.
Additional rental income, for example from rooftop extensions, helps speed up refinancing.
Industrially produced elements reduce long-term maintenance costs.
For social acceptance, keeping rents affordable is key. Ideally, higher rents due to modernization are offset by lower energy costs, achieving so-called “warm rent neutrality.” This ensures social fairness while making projects economically viable.

What technical requirements must a building meet?

Not every building is suitable for serial renovation. Certain technical and logistical conditions are necessary:

Structural condition: The building’s basic structure and load-bearing condition must be solid enough to ensure a further lifecycle of 70 to 100 years with ecoworks products.
Site access: There must be enough space around the building for construction, especially for crane access to lift large façade elements.
Roof and basement: Ideally, roof and basement levels are unoccupied. Roofs should not have complex structures like dormers and should be free of heavy shading from neighboring buildings or tall trees, so photovoltaic systems can operate efficiently.
Exclusions: Buildings under landmark protection are usually not suitable, due to strict requirements on external appearance.

How long does a renovation take, and how short is the actual construction phase?

It’s important to distinguish between the overall project duration and the actual on-site construction time. From the first analysis through detailed planning, production, and final completion, the whole process can take up to a year.

The real advantage of serial renovation is the dramatically shorter time spent on-site. Installing prefabricated façade and roof elements along with new building systems typically takes just a few weeks. By shifting much of the work to the factory, the on-site construction time can be reduced by 30 to 70 percent.

Can tenants stay in their apartments during renovation, and how disruptive is it?

Yes. One of the biggest benefits of our approach is that serial renovation can be carried out while tenants remain in their homes.

Thanks to the high degree of prefabrication and the focus on the building envelope, work inside apartments is kept to an absolute minimum. In many cases, units don’t need to be entered at all, or only briefly for specific tasks. A key reason is that supply lines (via the technical module) are run along the façade, avoiding the usual weeks of disruptive work inside occupied apartments.

As a result, noise, dust, and construction-related disturbances are much lower than with traditional renovation. Most noisy, dust-heavy work takes place in the factory, and the short installation time on-site further reduces disruption.

How much energy can be saved?

Upgrading the building envelope can reduce energy demand by up to 83%. On average, annual heating costs per apartment are lowered by around €500, which helps keep overall housing costs stable despite the modernization.

Does serial renovation offer opportunities to add living space?

Yes. Creating additional living space is a strategic component of the ecoworks model. This transforms renovation from a pure cost factor into a value-generating investment.

Vertical extensions: In partnership with timber modular construction companies, it is possible to add up to four full additional floors, creating entirely new and attractive housing units.
Other extensions: The offering also includes new, elevated balconies, converting unused attic space, and transforming spaces into loggias.

Living space expansion is a major economic lever for renovation projects. While energy upgrades reduce future energy and CO2-related costs and preserve property value, adding new apartments generates direct and sustainable rental income. This additional revenue significantly shortens the payback period and improves financing options.

How does working with ecoworks look in practice?

As a turnkey provider, ecoworks offers tailored consulting, the development of customized renovation concepts, and end-to-end project execution from planning to completion—with special focus on close coordination with partners and maximizing available subsidies.

The process unfolds in four phases:

Analysis: A detailed assessment of the existing building, including on-site inspection, record of building layouts and structures, and analysis of energy consumption. The goal is to identify the building’s needs and renovation potential.
Planning: Development of a customized plan, including materials, schedules, and integration of prefabricated façade and roof elements. Necessary permits and subsidies are also clarified during this phase.
Implementation: Prefabricated elements are transported to the construction site and installed, ensuring a fast and efficient process.

Completion: Final acceptance and handover to the owner, including all relevant documents such as the new energy performance certificate. Even after completion, ecoworks remains a reliable partner to ensure smooth operation of the new systems.

What role do prefabrication and partners play?

Industrial prefabrication is at the heart of the ecoworks model. Roughly 80% of the work normally done on-site is shifted into controlled factory environments, where timber-frame façade and roof elements are produced using sustainable insulation such as wood fiber or cellulose.
The modules integrate insulation, windows, ventilation systems with heat recovery, summer heat protection, and optionally new utility shafts for heating, water, and electricity. This high degree of integration streamlines the process significantly.
ecoworks acts as both system integrator and general contractor, working with a network of leading timber construction and prefabrication companies across Europe. This ensures scalability, high production capacity, and efficient logistics throughout Germany.

What does the NetZero standard include, and how is it achieved?

The NetZero standard defines an operationally carbon-neutral building—one that generates as much renewable energy annually as it consumes for heating, hot water, and electricity.

This is achieved through:

A highly insulated building envelope
An efficient heat pump system
A rooftop photovoltaic system

For the housing sector, NetZero is a crucial strategy to safeguard the future. Rising energy prices, CO2 pricing, and stricter EU regulations pose serious risks—properties could otherwise lose value or become “stranded assets.” On-site energy generation helps ensure stable utility costs and long-term asset value.

What are the maintenance requirements?

Modern building systems require regular professional maintenance to ensure durability, efficiency, and warranty protection. This applies especially to the heat pump, photovoltaic system, and decentralized ventilation units.

A unique advantage of the ecoworks approach is easier maintenance access. By placing utility lines within the façade, most work can be carried out from outside, avoiding the need to enter apartments. This minimizes inconvenience for tenants.

How is long-term performance ensured?

Long-term energy performance is secured through three pillars:

Quality assurance: Factory prefabrication ensures higher consistency and reduces errors compared to traditional on-site construction. Blower-door testing confirms airtightness levels exceeding even new-build standards.
Monitoring: Installed monitoring systems continuously track building energy data, enabling early detection of performance issues and proactive adjustments.
Digital twin: The 3D model created during planning remains in use, serving as a data basis for simulations, energy analyses, and ongoing building optimization.

ecoworks is a leader in serial renovation in Germany. We guide housing providers from concept to completion, shifting 80% of value creation into the factory. This enables us to transform portfolios in a cost-effective and climate-neutral way.
‍
Get in touch

Navigation

Homepage Process Projects About us News & Insights

Useful

Press Jobs Media Newsletter Contact Whitepaper

Social Media

LinkedIn Youtube Facebook

imprint

privacy statement

whistleblower system