This is especially helpful for first-time builders: Our guide provides useful tips for the period before construction begins:

• 1. Turn your ideas into a clear plan: Think carefully in advance about how large the building should be. The cost of a new build rises in line with the building volume. The less you build, the less you will pay.
• 2. Proceed carefully and decisively: You can already save money during the planning phase by taking sufficient time and developing several options with an architect. Then make a firm decision on one version. The principle is simple: Do not hesitate or go back on your decision. Redesigns during the actual construction phase can be expensive.
• 3. Develop the project in as much detail as possible: This is important because it allows your architect to prepare a very precise invitation to tender. It lists all elements and trades involved in the new build, including descriptions of quantities, services and quality. You can submit this tender to different contractors and ask them to quote. Your architect can advise you on which service providers to consider.

Which construction method do you prefer? A solid-construction house takes several months to build, offers a long service life and retains its value. The walls can store heat without becoming excessively warm in summer. This construction method is also known for providing a healthy indoor climate. Prefabricated houses score particularly highly for their short construction time. They are very well insulated, making it easy to create an energy-efficient home. Whichever type of construction you choose, an architect is a reliable source of advice. Above all, however, your own wishes are what matter. Would you like a large garden and plenty of privacy? A detached house may be the right choice. However, it requires a large and therefore costly plot. A terraced house needs less land. In every case, keep the design as simple as possible, choose a functional, flexible floor plan and minimise projections and recesses in the façade to help prevent energy loss.

Most people who build a new house intend it to be a home for life. It therefore makes sense to think about later life today. Climbing stairs may become more difficult, there may be too little space to move around in the bathroom or getting into the bath may become challenging. Often, small details are all it takes to improve comfort for every generation. Ideally, build your home to be fully or largely accessible from the outset. Our house-building guide explains what this means:

DIN 18040, Part 2 defines the requirements that accessible new buildings should meet. Doors, for example, should be at least 90 centimetres wide so that wheelchairs and walking frames can pass through easily. The standard also covers manoeuvring spaces and design features. You can use its specifications as a guide when planning your house.

There are two basic ways to provide hot water:

• Centrally and connected to the heating system
• Decentrally using instantaneous water heaters or small storage heaters

Important to know: These appliances can be powered by electricity, but this is not necessarily the most sensible option because it is comparatively expensive. Electricity can cover peak demand, while renewable energy sources provide the base heat, for example through a solar thermal system. This can heat around 60 percent of your annual domestic hot water. During the early planning stages of your new build, clarify the requirements for a solar system, including the available roof area, roof pitch and shading.

If you want to build an energy-efficient home, you should know the following terms. They appear in the building's energy performance certificate and will come up repeatedly during the planning process:

Annual primary energy demand (QP)

This is the amount of energy a house requires each year, from energy generation through to heat production.

Annual final energy demand (QE)

This is the amount of energy you need to purchase each year, for example in the form of heating oil, gas or pellets.

Annual heating demand (QH)

This is the amount of energy your house requires during a heating period to maintain a normal indoor temperature.

Transmission heat losses (H’t)

These are the heat losses you should expect through the external surfaces: walls, roof and ground-contact floor.

Environmentally responsible construction begins with the choice of building plot, which affects a house's energy consumption. The site conditions determine which heating system can be installed and which building materials need to be used. Care should also be taken to keep air, water and soil clean and to use renewable energy.

Always keep health and environmental considerations in mind during the planning process:

• Safe materials
• Efficient heating systems
• Effective waste disposal and avoidance of hazardous waste
• Focus on regional energy and material flows
• Reduction of climate-damaging CO2 emissions
• Good thermal insulation
• Use of solar energy

Tip: The right automated sun shading solution can help you save significant energy when building a house.

Type of house

Solid construction or prefabricated house? Detached or terraced?

House size

How many square metres and how many rooms? How large should the garden be?

Floor plan

Can rooms be repurposed if required? Could the house be divided and rooms rented out later?

Fixtures and finishes

Do you want the luxury option, or are there less expensive but comparable alternatives?

Accessibility

Will the home remain comfortable and accessible in later life, or for wheelchair users and other people with limited mobility?

Budget

How much budget do you need, and can careful planning save you money? How will the project be financed? Is sufficient equity available?

Environmental protection

Can you use renewable energy and resource-efficient materials?

Building form

How can you prevent heat loss? What insulation is required?

Energy efficiency

EnEV – Does your house meet the requirements of this European regulation?

Hot water supply

Central or decentralised?

For many people, a garden is simply part of a good quality of life. It is a place to unwind after a long day, enjoy a barbecue with friends or express your creativity through design. Children have room to play, while a well-designed and maintained garden can also increase a home's resale value. The right sun shading for the garden contributes too. It not only provides shade and blocks harmful UV radiation, but also protects against wind and rain showers.

Tip: Not enough space for a garden at ground level? No problem. Façades, garages and roofs can also be greened. Even the balcony can become an urban garden.

... because this will ultimately save you money. Ideally, sun and heat protection should be considered during the building design stage, even though it can usually be retrofitted later with only minor structural work. To make sure no important steps are overlooked until it is too late, always commission both an installation specialist and an energy-efficiency expert who can assess which measures and products offer the greatest savings potential.

Around 80% of household energy consumption is attributable to heating and cooling. According to the German Weather Service, the number of summer days with temperatures above 25°C will increase by as much as 70% by 2045. Unfortunately, the existing building stock is not yet prepared for this. The Representative Office for Transparent Building Envelopes (RTG) therefore commissioned the engineering consultancy Hauser (IBH) to conduct a study. The results show that automated sun shading will continue to ensure comfortable indoor temperatures without air conditioning . Detailed study findings and recommendations are available on the RTG website.

Sun shading therefore offers enormous potential to reduce heat gain in summer and energy loss in winter. However, this only works if the products are consistently used and adjusted correctly. Automation is an effective way to ensure this with minimal effort: It knows the appropriate settings and, when combined with a weather station, can respond continuously to changing weather conditions.

Under the Paris Agreement and Germany's Climate Action Plan 2050, the German Federal Government has committed to achieving broad greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. To reach its interim targets, the Federal Government provides a 15% subsidy for individual measures such as renovating sun shading or retrofitting control systems under the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings programme (BEG). Our digital funding assistant explains the requirements, helps you determine whether your products are eligible and supports you in compiling the documents required for the application. This service is only valid in Germany.

This is also a valuable tip for the future. If this step is omitted, your sun shading options will be severely restricted later on. A power supply is essential for an automated solution without a strap or crank, which in turn can have a positive effect on your energy balance.

Installing windows without considering sun shading would be a mistake. If windows are replaced, the sun shading must also be taken into account because both the energy entering the building and the thermal comfort of your home depend on the combination of glazing and sun shading. Fall protection or insect screens can also sometimes be installed at the same time.

Are you considering the same sun shading solution for every room simply to create a consistent look? In the long term, you may regret not being able to use daylight and shading more flexibly. Think through your daily routine and the activities that will take place in each room. Ask yourself what the ideal lighting conditions and shading options would be, then choose between external venetian blinds, roller shutters and other solutions accordingly. WAREMA's wide range of designs, colours and fabrics also makes it easy to coordinate the appearance of different products.

When planning an outdoor area, consider how it will be used later so that you can choose the right orientation. A north-facing patio provides shade throughout the day in hot weather. If an outdoor breakfast gives you energy for the day, an east-facing area lets you enjoy the first morning rays. Dedicated sun lovers can soak up the sun on a south-facing patio from early afternoon, while a west-facing patio is the ideal place to watch the most beautiful sunsets.