Hello everyone,
We currently live in a house (built in 2015, rented) with the following energy consumption values:
We have looked into solar options (both photovoltaic and thermal) to support or power an air-source heat pump, but financially it doesn’t seem to add up. Additionally, our house will have a gable roof aligned exactly north-south, meaning one roof side faces east and the other west.
We currently live in a house (built in 2015, rented) with the following energy consumption values:
- Household electricity: 3,000 kWh per year
- Air-source heat pump: 4,300 kWh electricity per year, heating output 13,000 kWh
- Solar thermal system: 1,000 kWh thermal energy
We have looked into solar options (both photovoltaic and thermal) to support or power an air-source heat pump, but financially it doesn’t seem to add up. Additionally, our house will have a gable roof aligned exactly north-south, meaning one roof side faces east and the other west.
- For the photovoltaic system, I initially considered a battery so we wouldn’t have to feed electricity into the grid for very little compensation and could instead use the generated power for the air-source heat pump. However, such a battery quickly costs upwards of 6,000 euros; for that price, you could pay for gas for 8 years. In other words, even if it were a perfect battery that supplied all the electricity for the heat pump at no cost, it would need to last at least 8 years. This doesn’t even take into account that the air-source heat pump itself is also more expensive than the gas heating system.
- I am skeptical about solar thermal because during the summer months, when the sun is strongest, you actually need the least hot water. Electricity, at least household electricity, is always needed.
- Is it possible to install a gas heating system if you only build according to the energy-saving regulations (e.g., EnEV / energy performance requirements) without installing anything on the roof? Or would that not comply with the maximum allowed primary energy demand?
- What about using only an air-source heat pump (like we have now in our rental)? Somehow it is so expensive that it never really pays off compared to gas, regardless of whether you have photovoltaic or solar thermal on the roof. Gas is just too cheap...
That's right, Karsten, in your case. From one and a half floors upwards, hardly any visible plastic pipes will run through the bedroom.
And no costs should be overlooked when doing a full cost calculation.
The heat pump supporters also like to present a heat pump as maintenance-free. But that’s not true either.
And no costs should be overlooked when doing a full cost calculation.
The heat pump supporters also like to present a heat pump as maintenance-free. But that’s not true either.
J
junge_familie12 Mar 2018 15:56Thanks for all the responses. You can see – this is quite an emotional topic...
Of course, one could argue that a few euros don't make much difference in the overall costs, but it doesn’t stop there in my opinion. This is essentially about a mindset, and I firmly believe in initially leaving out anything that isn’t necessary. The “few thousand euro difference” adds up relatively quickly. If you save, reduce, or add things later here and there, you suddenly save several tens of thousands of euros.
To put this into perspective: Our plot cost more than 600€/sqm (about $650/sq ft), with a demolition-ready semi-detached house in an established neighborhood. We’re building a new house on it, and despite having six-figure equity, we will take out a loan of over 550,000 euros (about $590,000). If we can save a few tens of thousands of euros along the way, we will definitely do so...
Zaba12 schrieb:
If you’re already considering the cost difference between a heat pump and gas heating with just a few thousand euros difference, how does it compare for the rest of the house?!?
Of course, one could argue that a few euros don't make much difference in the overall costs, but it doesn’t stop there in my opinion. This is essentially about a mindset, and I firmly believe in initially leaving out anything that isn’t necessary. The “few thousand euro difference” adds up relatively quickly. If you save, reduce, or add things later here and there, you suddenly save several tens of thousands of euros.
To put this into perspective: Our plot cost more than 600€/sqm (about $650/sq ft), with a demolition-ready semi-detached house in an established neighborhood. We’re building a new house on it, and despite having six-figure equity, we will take out a loan of over 550,000 euros (about $590,000). If we can save a few tens of thousands of euros along the way, we will definitely do so...
In the end, the choice between gas and an air-to-water heat pump depends largely on how you expect the prices of gas and electricity to develop.
Personally, I would still install a gas boiler today because I don’t believe gas prices will diverge significantly from electricity prices over the lifespan of the technology. In 20 years, the situation might be different, who knows.
The outlook is better with a much more efficient ground-source heat pump. However, this requires a suitable plot of land as well as the willingness and ability to do some of the work yourself.
Regarding the durability of the technology: I have an oil burner from 1982 in the basement, and it hasn’t given me any trouble since I moved into the house. Running costs are reasonable too — including hot water and heating, I spend less than 1000€ (about $1100) per year.
Of course, oil is currently very cheap, but even a 50% price increase wouldn’t be a major shock for me now. Sure, if the system breaks down, I’ll have to replace it with something else, but as long as it keeps working, it’s quite cost-effective.
Personally, I would still install a gas boiler today because I don’t believe gas prices will diverge significantly from electricity prices over the lifespan of the technology. In 20 years, the situation might be different, who knows.
The outlook is better with a much more efficient ground-source heat pump. However, this requires a suitable plot of land as well as the willingness and ability to do some of the work yourself.
Regarding the durability of the technology: I have an oil burner from 1982 in the basement, and it hasn’t given me any trouble since I moved into the house. Running costs are reasonable too — including hot water and heating, I spend less than 1000€ (about $1100) per year.
Of course, oil is currently very cheap, but even a 50% price increase wouldn’t be a major shock for me now. Sure, if the system breaks down, I’ll have to replace it with something else, but as long as it keeps working, it’s quite cost-effective.
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