Hello,
Last week, we visited the planner for the first time, who is now working on the initial design of our new home. It will be about 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft), one and a half stories, and without a basement. We will be living in it as a family of four. For some time now, I have been thinking about the heating system.
I have spent hours researching online trying to get a clear picture. Here is what I have gathered so far:
Groundwater heat pump -> I initially liked this idea, but since we live near an open-pit mine, I can’t predict how the groundwater in the area might change.
Air source heat pump -> I’m not convinced… low efficiency in cold winters and also disturbing noise.
Ground source heat pump / collector -> One of my favorites, but not possible due to our property.
Ground source heat pump / borehole -> My current favorite. Downside: most expensive to install (unexpected costs with drilling?).
Oil heating -> I rule this out, as it takes up too much space that I’d rather use otherwise.
Pellet heating -> Also ruled out, for the same reason: too much space required.
When I told the planner about my current favorite—the ground source heat pump with a borehole—she introduced the topic of a gas heating system. Heat pumps can cost up to 25,000 euros (about 27,000 USD), and they are no longer as cost-effective... Houses today are insulated so well that gas is not as expensive for a single-family home. Her opinion was that the higher investment in heat pumps would never pay off. Also, the gas connection is already available on our street...
On the other hand, I have read that a gas condensing boiler alone might not be sufficient, as a certain energy standard for new buildings must be met. Therefore, only a gas condensing boiler combined with solar thermal (for hot water) would be feasible and probably sensible. The problem here is the orientation of the house/roof—it does not allow for a south-facing installation of solar collectors. Only east or west-facing options are possible, which are quite ineffective in this context.
What do you think? Do you believe a ground source heat pump would be more cost-effective than a gas condensing boiler? Or does it not make much difference in a new build, and the higher investment is not worth it? Or maybe it is worth it precisely because the solar thermal system cannot be fully utilized?
Estimated costs:
Ground source heat pump with borehole: 25,000 euros (about 27,000 USD)
Gas condensing boiler with solar thermal: 12,000 euros (about 13,000 USD)
New build location near Cottbus (deep eastern region).
Last week, we visited the planner for the first time, who is now working on the initial design of our new home. It will be about 140 sqm (1,507 sq ft), one and a half stories, and without a basement. We will be living in it as a family of four. For some time now, I have been thinking about the heating system.
I have spent hours researching online trying to get a clear picture. Here is what I have gathered so far:
Groundwater heat pump -> I initially liked this idea, but since we live near an open-pit mine, I can’t predict how the groundwater in the area might change.
Air source heat pump -> I’m not convinced… low efficiency in cold winters and also disturbing noise.
Ground source heat pump / collector -> One of my favorites, but not possible due to our property.
Ground source heat pump / borehole -> My current favorite. Downside: most expensive to install (unexpected costs with drilling?).
Oil heating -> I rule this out, as it takes up too much space that I’d rather use otherwise.
Pellet heating -> Also ruled out, for the same reason: too much space required.
When I told the planner about my current favorite—the ground source heat pump with a borehole—she introduced the topic of a gas heating system. Heat pumps can cost up to 25,000 euros (about 27,000 USD), and they are no longer as cost-effective... Houses today are insulated so well that gas is not as expensive for a single-family home. Her opinion was that the higher investment in heat pumps would never pay off. Also, the gas connection is already available on our street...
On the other hand, I have read that a gas condensing boiler alone might not be sufficient, as a certain energy standard for new buildings must be met. Therefore, only a gas condensing boiler combined with solar thermal (for hot water) would be feasible and probably sensible. The problem here is the orientation of the house/roof—it does not allow for a south-facing installation of solar collectors. Only east or west-facing options are possible, which are quite ineffective in this context.
What do you think? Do you believe a ground source heat pump would be more cost-effective than a gas condensing boiler? Or does it not make much difference in a new build, and the higher investment is not worth it? Or maybe it is worth it precisely because the solar thermal system cannot be fully utilized?
Estimated costs:
Ground source heat pump with borehole: 25,000 euros (about 27,000 USD)
Gas condensing boiler with solar thermal: 12,000 euros (about 13,000 USD)
New build location near Cottbus (deep eastern region).
Bauabenteurer schrieb:
I didn’t ask about the domestic hot water storage volume. Just the thought of having no hot water during visits (and we have a large family with frequent overnight guests) completely put me off.
I know what you mean. There are usually four of us, but because my wife’s parents worked in Paris for three years and before that in Washington, D.C. (USA) for three years, they only visit for one to two weeks at a time. Usually, her sister and her partner also stay with us. So the house can be occupied by up to eight people for a week at times... but we haven’t had any issues so far, probably thanks to the 55°C (131°F) set temperature and 270 liters (71 gallons) of storage volume, which was recommended for four people anyway. What I also noticed when we built the house is that some usually expensive or well-known fittings like shower heads use significantly less water because of smaller jets and better spray patterns, so you end up using less hot water when showering, for example… though I’m not sure if it really makes a noticeable difference.