ᐅ Which type of heating system would be the most suitable for us?
Created on: 11 Nov 2011 16:18
K
Kati27
Hello everyone,
We will be building our house next spring. It will be a two-family house (a type of semi-detached house) with a total area of about 230 sqm (2,475 sq ft) – but with only one heating system.
We had initially planned to build a KfW70 house with a gas condensing boiler combined with a solar system. However, we are now having some doubts. Would it possibly make more sense to use an air-to-water heat pump? This system generally incurs no fuel costs and offers independence from gas prices. We have also planned underfloor heating.
Another question is: If we were to choose an air-to-water heat pump, would we still need to build to the KfW70 standard? KfW70 offers the advantage of significant heating cost savings. That was one of the main reasons for considering it. But if the heating system doesn’t involve fuel costs, wouldn’t it make little difference whether we build to KfW70 or according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2009?
I would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
Kati
We will be building our house next spring. It will be a two-family house (a type of semi-detached house) with a total area of about 230 sqm (2,475 sq ft) – but with only one heating system.
We had initially planned to build a KfW70 house with a gas condensing boiler combined with a solar system. However, we are now having some doubts. Would it possibly make more sense to use an air-to-water heat pump? This system generally incurs no fuel costs and offers independence from gas prices. We have also planned underfloor heating.
Another question is: If we were to choose an air-to-water heat pump, would we still need to build to the KfW70 standard? KfW70 offers the advantage of significant heating cost savings. That was one of the main reasons for considering it. But if the heating system doesn’t involve fuel costs, wouldn’t it make little difference whether we build to KfW70 or according to the Energy Saving Ordinance 2009?
I would appreciate any advice.
Best regards
Kati
Hello Kati,
A few weeks ago, we faced the same decision.
We then used the energy consulting service from the consumer advice center (just ask Google). It costs about 10 € and really helped us. We have now decided NOT to use an air-to-water heat pump. Gas was recommended to us.
Best regards,
Katinka
A few weeks ago, we faced the same decision.
We then used the energy consulting service from the consumer advice center (just ask Google). It costs about 10 € and really helped us. We have now decided NOT to use an air-to-water heat pump. Gas was recommended to us.
Best regards,
Katinka
Hello
For your information, HT = main rate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. NT = off-peak rate from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., also known as day and night electricity.
These rates are not only for heat pumps. We have a separate electricity meter for our heat pump, recording day and night usage, and another meter for regular electricity also recording day and night usage. Of course, the rates for the heat pump are significantly cheaper.
Best regards, Sven
For your information, HT = main rate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. NT = off-peak rate from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., also known as day and night electricity.
These rates are not only for heat pumps. We have a separate electricity meter for our heat pump, recording day and night usage, and another meter for regular electricity also recording day and night usage. Of course, the rates for the heat pump are significantly cheaper.
Best regards, Sven
E.Curb schrieb:
wow, a complete energy consultation including demand and cost-effectiveness calculations for just 10.- € (about $11)! Great!! I also don’t see how a brief, superficial conversation for 10 € (about $11) could result in a meaningful and reliable plan. 😉
It seems the main focus here was “cheap at any cost.”
Best regards
Hello Kati,
let’s start again from the beginning; maybe this will help you take the next right steps. First of all, your problem and questions cannot really be solved here, from a distance.
Basically, it is still the case that people do not build very often in their lives, and in Germany we are more tied to a location compared to other countries. Real estate has also played and continues to play an important role as a form of retirement provision and is therefore an investment. At the same time, the importance of operating costs, mainly energy costs, is increasing and coming into focus. These costs will significantly influence the long-term value of the property today and in the future.
Against this background, it is important to know that we are currently in the transition from the 2009 Energy Saving Ordinance to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance. The 2012 ordinance requires a further 30% reduction in the currently applicable energy level. Therefore, you should definitely plan and build according to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance now to avoid having an “old standard” next year.
If you build a property according to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance, you can benefit from attractive funding or low-interest loans from KfW, at least for part of the financing. An energy consultant or funding advisor can provide information on this. You can find them at DENA or DEN e.V.
An energy consultant should work together with your planner or builder to develop a concept for your property that meets the framework conditions described by €uro. Essential are your personal user requirements, the legal regulations, and those triggered by the location.
To come back to one of your questions: basically, with an Energy Saving Ordinance 2012 or KfW 70 house, a gas condensing boiler system is possible and makes sense. It is characterized by low investment costs, high supply security, and environmental friendliness. The system technology is significantly less expensive than, for example, an air heat pump—a realistic cost ratio is about 1 to 3.
The environmental balance of gas is much better than electricity due to the losses in electricity generation and transport (keyword: primary energy factor). Biogas is gaining importance as an alternative to conventional fossil gas and can be obtained from your energy provider in purified form.
Due to the energy transition, further price increases are expected. Studies predict that electricity prices could quadruple in the coming years. This increase is expected to be lower for other energy sources. This shows that, even if solar water heating and heating support do not currently make economic sense for many, they can contribute significantly in the long term to cushioning price developments.
In summary: find an energy consultant! Together with your planner, combine your wishes, requirements, budget, location conditions, and legal framework into a concept and then plan and realize the property accordingly. Besides the subject described above, this also includes questions about age-appropriate building or what to do when the children leave the house. How can a single-family house be easily converted into a two-family house?
Best regards,
Erik
let’s start again from the beginning; maybe this will help you take the next right steps. First of all, your problem and questions cannot really be solved here, from a distance.
Basically, it is still the case that people do not build very often in their lives, and in Germany we are more tied to a location compared to other countries. Real estate has also played and continues to play an important role as a form of retirement provision and is therefore an investment. At the same time, the importance of operating costs, mainly energy costs, is increasing and coming into focus. These costs will significantly influence the long-term value of the property today and in the future.
Against this background, it is important to know that we are currently in the transition from the 2009 Energy Saving Ordinance to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance. The 2012 ordinance requires a further 30% reduction in the currently applicable energy level. Therefore, you should definitely plan and build according to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance now to avoid having an “old standard” next year.
If you build a property according to the 2012 Energy Saving Ordinance, you can benefit from attractive funding or low-interest loans from KfW, at least for part of the financing. An energy consultant or funding advisor can provide information on this. You can find them at DENA or DEN e.V.
An energy consultant should work together with your planner or builder to develop a concept for your property that meets the framework conditions described by €uro. Essential are your personal user requirements, the legal regulations, and those triggered by the location.
To come back to one of your questions: basically, with an Energy Saving Ordinance 2012 or KfW 70 house, a gas condensing boiler system is possible and makes sense. It is characterized by low investment costs, high supply security, and environmental friendliness. The system technology is significantly less expensive than, for example, an air heat pump—a realistic cost ratio is about 1 to 3.
The environmental balance of gas is much better than electricity due to the losses in electricity generation and transport (keyword: primary energy factor). Biogas is gaining importance as an alternative to conventional fossil gas and can be obtained from your energy provider in purified form.
Due to the energy transition, further price increases are expected. Studies predict that electricity prices could quadruple in the coming years. This increase is expected to be lower for other energy sources. This shows that, even if solar water heating and heating support do not currently make economic sense for many, they can contribute significantly in the long term to cushioning price developments.
In summary: find an energy consultant! Together with your planner, combine your wishes, requirements, budget, location conditions, and legal framework into a concept and then plan and realize the property accordingly. Besides the subject described above, this also includes questions about age-appropriate building or what to do when the children leave the house. How can a single-family house be easily converted into a two-family house?
Best regards,
Erik
Erik_IEU schrieb:
...This is characterized by low initial investment costs, high supply reliability, and environmental friendliness. The system technology is significantly cheaper compared to, for example, an air-source heat pump, realistically by a factor of 1 to 3. Well, I would strongly reconsider that 😉 The pure investment costs of a “true” air-source heat pump are comparable to those of a gas condensing boiler plus connection costs. Electricity supply is also reliable, and in addition, an air-source heat pump can utilize some environmental energy, which is not possible with gas, where you would have to rely indirectly on a solar thermal system 😉 I do not see a factor of 1:3 here. Furthermore, gas offers no option for cooling, which is easily possible with an air-source heat pump. Besides that, with gas, an uneconomical solar thermal system has to be compulsorily “included” unless you choose the 15% rule! Also, photovoltaic systems can be combined economically well with an air-source heat pump, which makes much less sense with gas 😉
Conclusion: It always depends on very specific conditions. Unless these are reliably clarified, no solution can be favored!
Best regards.
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