Hello everyone,
My husband and I attended a home exhibition today featuring a local timber house builder (Schleswig-Holstein) and there we learned about the Vestaxx window heating system.
Is there anyone here who has experience with the Vestaxx window heating?
At first, it sounds unusual to have the heating integrated into the windows. For the triple-glazed windows, a nanotechnology-based, invisible layer is applied to the inner surface of the innermost pane, which warms the glass up to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) via infrared and heats the room. The warmth actually felt very comfortable, and the windows were completely cold on the outside (today’s temperature was below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F)). Allegedly, the Vestaxx window heating transfers 92% of its heat to the room, and the Technical University of Berlin has tested this Vestaxx window heating system and rated it positively. It appears to have been on the market only recently.
Overall, I find this quite interesting. It is significantly cheaper than other heating systems, allows individual control of each room, and unlike underfloor heating, it is very responsive.
Of course, this only makes sense in a low-energy house (the timber builder mainly constructs 40+ standard homes), as the system runs on electricity. In that case, the Vestaxx window heating is said to consume very little power.
This is my impression from the expo; of course, they want to sell the system.
What are your experiences with Vestaxx? Have you heard of this system before? Could it be an alternative to conventional heating? Does it have a future?
My husband and I attended a home exhibition today featuring a local timber house builder (Schleswig-Holstein) and there we learned about the Vestaxx window heating system.
Is there anyone here who has experience with the Vestaxx window heating?
At first, it sounds unusual to have the heating integrated into the windows. For the triple-glazed windows, a nanotechnology-based, invisible layer is applied to the inner surface of the innermost pane, which warms the glass up to 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) via infrared and heats the room. The warmth actually felt very comfortable, and the windows were completely cold on the outside (today’s temperature was below 10 degrees Celsius (50°F)). Allegedly, the Vestaxx window heating transfers 92% of its heat to the room, and the Technical University of Berlin has tested this Vestaxx window heating system and rated it positively. It appears to have been on the market only recently.
Overall, I find this quite interesting. It is significantly cheaper than other heating systems, allows individual control of each room, and unlike underfloor heating, it is very responsive.
Of course, this only makes sense in a low-energy house (the timber builder mainly constructs 40+ standard homes), as the system runs on electricity. In that case, the Vestaxx window heating is said to consume very little power.
This is my impression from the expo; of course, they want to sell the system.
What are your experiences with Vestaxx? Have you heard of this system before? Could it be an alternative to conventional heating? Does it have a future?
V
Vestaxx GmbH7 Oct 2022 12:18stjoob_at schrieb:
@Vestaxx GmbH – Andreas, since you are also in contact with many people (Fraunhofer, etc.), I would suggest having a master’s thesis done on this topic. It requires little effort (except for the author 😉) and provides a solid basis for discussion. Good point – we are already working on that 😉 However, we also want to have the full cost calculation we prepared reviewed by an independent institute.
V
Vestaxx GmbH7 Oct 2022 12:21Vestaxx GmbH schrieb:
Good point – we’re already working on that 😉 However, we also want to have the full cost calculation we prepared reviewed by an independent institute. Addendum -> Currently, a comprehensive study is underway by ISFH Hameln in cooperation with the Jülich Research Centre. They are examining and extensively measuring nearly identical houses with different heating systems. The results won’t be available until next year, but then it will be even easier, for example, to support arguments.
RotorMotor schrieb:
Assuming a heat pump including underfloor heating costs €25,000 more than a window heating system including a hot water heat pump, the payback period is not even 17 years.Is the €25,000 difference already well documented? It seems quite high as a price gap to me, but I’m not exactly sure.However, when comparing costs, you also have to consider that the heating system may eventually wear out and need to be replaced, while the underfloor heating usually remains intact. This means the costs for the underfloor heating should actually be considered separately.
V
Vestaxx GmbH7 Oct 2022 12:27RotorMotor schrieb:
I'll propose this as a starting point:
150m² (1,615 sq ft) with 40kWh/m²a (40 kWh/m² per year) → 6000kWh/year heating energy demand
10kWp photovoltaic system + 5kWh storage → approximately 15kWh/day in November, December, January, February. With 10kWh used for household electricity including hot water, 5kWh/day remains for heating
Electricity purchase price 35 cents/kWh
Lost feed-in tariff revenue: 8.2 cents/kWh
Direct electric heating:
4 months * 30 days * 5 kWh/day = 600 kWh from photovoltaic electricity
Remaining 5400 kWh to be purchased
Totals 5400*0.35 + 600*0.082 = €1939.20
Heat pump:
Electricity demand: 6000 / 4 = 1500 kWh
Remaining 900 kWh purchased
Totals 900*0.35 + 600*0.082 = €364.50
This saves over €1500 per year in heating costs.
Assuming a heat pump including underfloor heating costs €25,000 more than an electric radiator including a domestic hot water heat pump, the payback period is less than 17 years.First of all, thanks to RotorMotor for taking the time to present this example calculation.
I am eager to respond immediately but currently don’t have the time. I invest a lot of time here and usually enjoy engaging with your arguments, but I also have to run the company alongside this. On Monday I will be on a long train journey again, so you can expect my reply by then at the latest.
V
Vestaxx GmbH7 Oct 2022 12:37kati1337 schrieb:
Are the 25k already well-founded? That difference seems quite high to me, but I’m not exactly sure.
However, when comparing costs, you also have to consider: The heating system will eventually wear out and need to be replaced, while the underfloor heating usually remains intact. So, the costs for the underfloor heating should basically be considered separately.A quick note on that:Every heating system will eventually wear out and need replacement. Usually, only the heat generator (heat pump) is replaced, not the distributor (underfloor heating). However, even that can eventually develop problems, and then the costs can become really, really high.
Now, looking at this in comparison with the argument: What if you (Vestaxx) are no longer around in 20 years? Where would one get a replacement glass then?
Vestaxx GmbH schrieb:
A quick note on this:
Every heating system will eventually need to be replaced. Usually, only the heat generator (heat pump) needs to be replaced, not the distribution system (underfloor heating). However, problems can arise with these too, and then it becomes really expensive. When we built our first house, we were concerned about that as well, but now (after having observed the installation at the time) – what could possibly happen to the underfloor heating that is completely embedded in the screed? What about the pipes? If a pipe in the screed actually breaks (which is unlikely), wouldn’t the residential building insurance generally cover that?
I mainly see the risk in the pump or similar components, which are located above the floor and can be replaced.
Vestaxx GmbH schrieb:
And viewed in comparison to the argument: what if you (Vestaxx) are no longer around in 20 years? Where would you get replacement glass then? I am less worried about individual suppliers – if the window heating system catches on, there will likely be more providers established in 20 years.
Choosing a window heating system mainly carries the risk that switching later to an underfloor heating system will involve significant costs. Therefore, it might be more interesting for renovation than for new construction. In existing buildings, the problem of not having underfloor heating is more common, and installing it afterward is expensive.
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