Facade greening
Chemnitz promotes façade greening
In September 2023, Chemnitz City Council adopted the 2nd update of the funding guideline for façade greening. A number of conditions were revised to make it easier to claim the funding.
In addition to new green façades, the repair of existing green façades is now also eligible for funding. This includes measures such as soil improvement, replanting of failures or the improvement of trellis systems. However, the care and maintenance of existing green façades is still not eligible for funding.
Background:
Climate change, building densification, the loss of open spaces and more traffic in the city pose increasing challenges for urban areas. The risk of flooding is increasing due to the sealing of surfaces. Biodiversity is being restricted. Increased noise and pollution also have an impact on the health of the urban population. Heat islands form in the city, which are not only a burden for the population, but also for the building fabric and thus lead to high subsequent maintenance costs.
The city of Chemnitz wants to counteract these negative environmental changes by promoting green façades. The aim is to incentivise owners to carry out ecological measures to green buildings on a voluntary basis and thus improve the quality of life of residents in the long term.
The subsidy can be applied for at the city planning office.
The most important points at a glance:
- Funding amount as a subsidy:
Zone A: 75 %, max. € 7,500 for new plants or € 2,000 for repairs
Zone B: 50%, max. €5,000 for new installations or €1,000 for repairs - Granting authority: Chemnitz City Planning Office, Urban Renewal Department, Coordination of Subsidies
- Applicants: Owners and authorised users or their authorised representatives
- Earmarking period: 8 years
- Funding period: until 31.12.2024
Guideline
Further information
Noise reduction
- Sound is refracted, scattered and reflected by the uneven surface of the greenery. This leads to a noticeable noise reduction of up to 5dB(A) for both the interior and the immediate surroundings. Exposure to road noise in particular can be reduced in this way.
Cooling/insulation
- By casting shade and evaporation on the leaf surfaces, the façade greening contributes to cooling the building in the summer months. On hot summer days, the surface temperature of the façade can be reduced by up to 30 °C. This not only improves the indoor climate, but also contributes to heat protection in the city as a whole by reducing heat islands.
- In the winter months, this effect is reversed: the greenery acts as an additional insulating layer and can create a temperature difference of up to 7 °C, which means that less heat is lost via the façade.
Rainwater retention
- On green façades, rainwater is collected and drained away with a delay. Additional water can be stored in the root area of the plants. This means that less water is released into the sewage system at a later date. A high proportion of green structures in the city can thus reduce flood peaks.
Air quality
- Plants produce oxygen. This also applies to green façades. In addition, pollutants are absorbed by the leaves and fine dust particles are bound. The air is purified, relative humidity is increased and air quality is improved.
Environmental quality
- Green façades contribute to improving the working and living environment. Green structures in city centre areas loosen up the buildings and increase the quality of stay. As an architectural stylistic device, they can be used to guide pathways or provide privacy. They also lead to better acceptance of individual buildings or urban neighbourhoods.
Biodiversity
- Façade greening creates bridges between large green spaces for many species and provides habitats or feeding areas on a small scale. This can improve biodiversity in inner-city areas.
Health protection
- Many of the benefits of façade greening described above also serve to protect the health of the population. They prevent a variety of symptoms of illness and physical stress and promote general well-being.
Cost benefits
- Green façades lead to cost savings. They reduce heating costs in winter and the costs of additional air conditioning in summer.
- They also protect the façades from harmful environmental influences such as hail, UV rays, heavy rain, extreme temperature fluctuations, pollutants, etc., which increases the service life of the components.
- In addition, green façades increase the attractiveness of a building. This can result in better sales opportunities and higher occupancy rates.
A number of plants are suitable for façade greening. Many guidelines contain extensive tables on the selection of suitable plants. The plant list of the City of Chemnitz (Annex 2 to the funding guideline) also lists suitable native plant species. The following overview is an update of this plant list. It has been supplemented with important specific characteristics of the respective plants in order to provide a decision-making aid for the selection of suitable climbing plants for ground-based façade greening. The information listed represents ranges, as there are usually many subspecies with different characteristics for the individual plant genera. You should therefore find out about the species-specific characteristics such as growth height or light requirements of the selected plants before purchasing.
There is a much larger selection of plants for wall-mounted greenery. However, these types of greenery are usually installed by specialised companies who will advise you on the right plants for your property.
Are you planning to green the façade of your building and would like to apply for funding?
- First check whether your building is located within the subsidised area and if so, which subsidy rate applies to you.
Zone A (red): 75 %, max. € 7,500 for new installations or € 2,000 for repairs
Zone B (yellow): 50%, max. €5,000 for new installations or €1,000 for repairs
Would you like to have your greening measure planned by a specialist?
- You can also have the costs for this subsidised as part of your application. The grant amounts to 50% of the actual planning costs incurred, up to a maximum of 10% of the production costs.
- The planning service is permitted before the actual start of the measure.
How does the application work?
- Fill out the application form, sign it and send it to the address on the right.
- Applications can be scanned and sent by e-mail or post.
- Please ensure that all documents are complete.
- Please submit the completed cost overview together with the grant application.
- Please complete the data protection declaration of consent and enclose it with the grant application so that we can process your application.
What happens after the application?
- The City Planning Office, as the authorising body, will check your application and inform you of the result.
- Processing takes a maximum of 4 weeks.
- If your application is approved, you will receive a notification of grant, in which the detailed conditions resulting from the grant are listed.
- You can then conclude contracts with construction companies or rental agreements for scaffolding or similar, purchase plants or materials and start implementing the measure.
Would you like to start the project immediately and not wait for the grant notification?
- You have the option of submitting an application for an early start to the project.
- Submit this at the same time as or after the grant application.
- As soon as you have received written approval from us, you can start the measure and also place orders without jeopardising the basic eligibility of the project for funding.
- Approval for the early start of the project is not the same as a grant notification. You cannot derive any entitlement to subsequent funding from this and initially bear the full risk of financing.
- The grant is only paid out once the project has been completed. This means that the applicant makes an advance payment.
- After completion, a proof of utilisation must be submitted in which the implementation of the measure is documented. This proof of utilisation also serves as an application for disbursement.
- Please ensure that all required documents are submitted in full.
- Receipts on thermal paper fade quickly. It is therefore essential that you make a copy.
- Enclose the completed list of receipts with the where-used list.
- Once the application for disbursement / proof of use has been received, it will be checked by the town planning office.
- If necessary, on-site inspections will be carried out to determine whether the measure has been implemented.
- You will then receive an inspection note. If everything is in order, the grant will be paid out to the specified account.
What is eligible for funding?
Planning services, unsealing, soil preparation, etc., implementation costs by specialised companies, rental costs for necessary equipment and machinery, material costs for climbing aids, plants, etc.
What is not eligible for funding?
- Costs for renovating the façade, administrative and financing costs, VAT if the applicant can claim input tax deduction
- Maintenance and care costs, horticultural installations, changes to supply and disposal lines, removal or treatment of contaminated sites, purchase of equipment and machinery
When is funding excluded?
- If the measure is not voluntary, e.g. due to stipulations in development plans or bylaws
- If the measure has already been started before approval is granted
- If the grant is less than €100 (de minimis limit)
- If other funding has already been utilised for the measure